5th September 2025
Four men who drove hundreds of miles to use their dogs to chase and kill hares on Lincolnshire farmland have been sentenced.
The sentences include having their dogs taken from them, being banned from keeping dogs, being banned from coming into Lincolnshire and the surrounding counties during hare coursing season, and having to pay £13,500 in kennel fees.
The men, Billy Joe Saunders, 36, Maurice John Smith, 36, Noah Stanley, 54, and Noah Stanley, 26, were convicted after dogs used for hunting were found in their possession and videos of the crime in action were found on their phones.
Police were called at 7.30am on October 9 last year and told the occupants of a silver Mercedes ML were hare coursing at Welland Bank, near Market Deeping.
The vehicle was seen speeding off the fens, covered in mud and the occupants were witnessed acting suspiciously.
Officers tracked down and stopped the vehicle in Beach Bank, near Pinchbeck.
Six people were found inside the vehicle, which is designed to carry five. Two were children aged 13 and 16.
In the boot were two light-coloured lurcher-type dogs named George and Molly, and the car was covered in fresh mud up to its roof, indicating that it had recently been off road.
Attempts had been made to conceal the rear number plates with mud.
A catapult and ball bearing were found, and a locking knife, which both belonged to the children.
When Saunders was talking to officers, he made reference to catapulting the windows of the police car instead of stopping next time.
PC Chris Windsor-Beck said: “They were all travelling from the south of the country and were unable to provide any good reason why they were in Lincolnshire at that time of the day with hounds used for hunting, catapults and a vehicle used in off-road driving.
“We have had reports that catapults and ball bearings have been used in recent months in illegal hunting, as well as against landowners who have confronted poachers on their land, so this was a really concerning find.
“When we started digging further into what had happened this included looking at the contents on their phones, and hare coursing videos were found on Saunders’ device which had been taken on the date of the incident reported.”
They showed Stanley Junior walking in a muddy field with a white hound, when a hare was seen. The dog’s lead was removed so it could chase the hare.
Another video showed Stanley Junior send the dog off towards a hare which was clearly visible, while a voice, believed to be that of Saunders, encouraged it. The hare was then caught.
Another showed Smith with a device believed to be a thermal camera.
Landmarks in the videos were matched to the Welland Bank area.
PC Windsor-Beck added: “We had the hard evidence that they were hare coursing, so there was nothing to do but accept guilt.
“Hare coursers are drawn to Lincolnshire because of its flat, open terrain. Often the activity involves gambling, and there can be a range of other criminal activities, including theft, criminal damage, violence and intimidation.”
All four had previously pleaded guilty to trespassing and being equipped to search for hares with dogs.
A sentencing hearing was heard at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on June 30 this year and continued September 4.
Saunders of Holwell Lane, Essendon, Hatfield, Stanley Senior and Junior, both of Shire Lane, Chalfont St Peter, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire, and Smith of New Fairplace Hill, Burgess Hill, West Sussex had Molly and George taken from them, the silver Mercedes car, all hare coursing paraphernalia, a locking knife and mobile phone.
They must each pay £3,375 compensation for kennel and welfare fees. They each must also pay prosecution costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £114.
Smith was also disqualified from keeping dogs for a decade and must undertake 120 hours of unpaid work. He was given a criminal behaviour order for 10 years.
Saunders and the two Stanleys were disqualified from keeping dogs for five years and must each undertake 60 hours of unpaid work. Each man was also given a criminal behaviour order for five years.
The orders mean the four men cannot enter Lincolnshire, Rutland, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire or Derbyshire between July 31 and April 30 each year.
The two teenagers had their cases dismissed.