14th march 2025
On Saturday the 14th October 2023 Craig Rooks, 58, of Vicarage Gardens, Todmorden came to Lincolnshire in his Toyota RAV 4 to hare course.
Swift action was taken by specialist operations officers resulting in the arrest of Rooks on the day and subsequent seizure of 2 dogs, the vehicle and other belongings such as a thermal imager.
An investigation by our Rural Crime Action Team followed and after many attempted delays to court proceedings a trial was held on the 25th October 2024 where Rooks was found guilty for Being equipped to hare course contrary to section 64 of the Police, Crime, sentencing and courts act 2022.
Rooks was sentenced to the following:
A criminal Behaviour Order for 10 years forbidding him to enter or remain in Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Northamptonshire, Leicestershire and Nottinghamshire, during the hare coursing season, with or in the company of anyone with dogs. He was also prohibited to possess any instruments to be used for poaching during the day or night-time within the five counties, until 24 October 2034.Disqualified from driving for 12 monthsForfeiture of the vehicle, 2 dogs, Thermal Imager and Binoculars.Compensation to be paid of £13,125.00 for kennelling fees.Further fine of £214
This decision was appealed by Rooks and today officers attended Lincoln Crown Court for the appeal.
Rooks was warned by the judge that should he continue with the appeal and be unsuccessful he would be facing a prison sentence.
Later in the day Rooks withdrew his appeal with the previous decision and sentence by Lincoln Magistrates Court upheld.
Rooks was fined a further £1,300.00 by the court for incurred costs.
This again reaffirms our strong stance in Lincolnshire that if you travel to our county to hare course, commit other primitive and illegal barbaric acts OR facilitate those that do, you will be made to account for these actions
Filthy scum like him should go to prison as well as be fined, evil murdering bastards like this want wiping off the planet. WHY do these parasites want to hurt the wild life??????these creatures have as much right to live in peace on this planet as we do.