Over two days in January, fields were churned up and gates were broken by 4×4 vehicles. Those who appeared at court were among 25 people charged with offences related to the violent disorder.
12th September 2025
Men accused of offences relating to the hare coursing and violent disorder that wreaked havoc across Cambridgeshire appeared at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court today (Friday, September 12). The criminal activity on Saturday, January 25, and Sunday, January 26, caused fear and damage across communities.
Fields were churned up and gates were broken by 4×4 vehicles, which drove dangerously down roads. The areas affected included Fordham, Ely, Prickwillow, Littleport, Welney, Chatteris, Manea, Wimblington and Doddington.
CambridgeshireLive reporter, Siobhan Middleton, was at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on Friday. We provided updates as charges were read out and further hearing dates were set through our live blog below.
‘Not guilty’ plea for Quie Doherty
Quie Doherty, 19, of Gipsy Lane in Wellingborough, pleaded ‘not guilty’ to attending a hare coursing event in Cambridgeshire on January 25. He has been released on unconditional bail, and will return to face trial at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on February 26, 2026.
Francis Doherty pleads guilty
Francie Doherty, 47, of Gipsy Lane in Wellingborough, pleaded guilty for attending a hare coursing event in Chatteris on January 25. The judge explained that the details of his CBO need to be decided, and he will return to Peterborough Magistrates’ Court for a sentencing hearing and to find out the details of his CBO on October 1, 2025. He was released on unconditional bail.
Trial date set for Francie Lee
Francie Lee, 22, of Fen Road in Cambridge, pleaded ‘not guilty’ to charges of attending a hare coursing event on January 25, and theft of confectionary items from a Cisco shop in March.
He has been released on unconditional bail, to return to Peterborough Magistrates’ Court for a trial on March 3, 2026.
Trial date set for Roy Lee
Trial dates have been set for Roy Lee, 26, of Barrowby Vale, Grantham, who has been charged with attending , a hare coursing event, failing to comply with a red light at a signal-controlled crossing, driving a vehicle with an obscured registration, and driving a vehicle in a manner that was likely to cause danger.
He has been released on unconditional bail, to return to face trial at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on March 3, 2026.
Trial dates set for Samuel Sheady
Trial dates have been set for Samuel Sheady, a 45-year-old from Heol Cefnydd, Wrexham. He attended the court via video link.
He has pleaded ‘not guilty’ to breaching a criminal behaviour order (CBO). This will be dealt with by Cambridge Crown Court, at a trial on October 8, 2025.
Sheady has also pleaded ‘not guilty’ to attending a hare coursing event. He will attend a trial for this charge on March 3, at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court.
Samuel Sheady has been released on bail.
Trial date set for Tom Bower
Trial dates have been set for 27-year-old Tom Bower, of Beck Bank, Spalding. He will join Mark Harris, Mark Harris Senior and Bobby-James Harris to face trial at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on February 4, 2026. He previously pleaded ‘not guilty’ to attending a hare coursing event, failing to comply with a red light signal, and driving with 10 people in a car – which was likely to cause danger.
Mark Harris Senior pleads ‘not guilty’
Mark Harris Senior, 48, of Romany Way, Clay Lake, Spalding, has pleaded ‘not guilty’ to attending a hare coursing event at Chatteris on January 25. He has been granted unconditional bail, to return to Peterborough Magistrates’ Court for a trial on February 4, 2026.
‘Not guilty’ plea by Bobby-James Harris
Bobby-James Harris, an 18-year-old from Romany Way in Clay Lake, Spalding, has pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charge of attending a hare coursing event in Chatteris on January 25. He has been released on unconditional bail, and will return for a trial at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on February 4, 2026.
‘Not guilty’ plea by Mark Harris
Mark Harris, 20, of Romany Way in Clay Lake, Spalding, has pleaded ‘not guilty’ to attending a hare coursing event in Chatteris on January 25. He has been released on unconditional bail, to return for a trial at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on February 4, 2026.
‘Guilty’ plea by Miles Doran
Miles Doran, 34, of Barlestone Road, Bagworth and Thornton, has pleaded ‘guilty’ to attending a hare coursing event.
‘Not guilty’ pleas by Samuel Sheady
Samuel Sheady, a 45-year-old of Heol Cefnydd, Wrexham, attended the court via video link. He has pleaded ‘not guilty’ to attending a hare coursing event in Chatteris on January 25, and to breaching a Criminal Behaviour Order.
‘Guilty’ plea for Levi Lee
Levi Lee, 36, of Basingstoke Road, Reading, has pleaded ‘guilty’ to attending a hare coursing event in Chatteris on January 25, 2025.
‘Not guilty’ pleas by Tom Bower
Tom Bower has pleaded ‘not guilty’ to charges of attending a hare coursing event in Cambridgeshire on January 25; failing to comply with a red light signal at a crossing at the junction between Ramsey Road and St Audrey Lane; theft from a Cisco shop in March on January 25; and driving with 10 passengers in the car while driving in St Ives, which was likely to cause danger.
‘Not guilty’ pleas by Francie Lee
Francie Lee has pleaded ‘not guilty’ to charges of attending a hare coursing event in Cambridgeshire on January 25, and theft of confectionary from a Cisco shop in March.
Who is facing charges?
The 10 people expected to attend court for their first hearings today, either in person or via video link, are
Mark Harris, 20, of Romany Way Clay Lake, Spalding, who has been charged with attending a hare coursing event.
Francie Lee, 22, of Fen Road, Cambridge, who has been charged with attending a hare coursing event and theft from a shop.
Bobby-James Harris, 18, of Romany Way Clay Lake, Spalding, who has been charged with attending a hare coursing event.
Francie Doherty, 47, of Gipsy Lane, Wellingborough, who has been charged with attending a hare coursing event.
Mark Harris, 20, of Romany Way Clay Lake, Spalding, who has been charged with attending a hare coursing event.
Tom Bower, 27, of Beck Bank, Spalding, who has been charged with attending a hare coursing event, failing to comply with a traffic signal, driving a vehicle with the registration mark obscured and driving a motor vehicle in a dangerous condition.
Tony Taylor, 23, of Sandy Lane, Stourport on Severn, who has been charged with theft from a shop.
Miles Doran, 34, of Barlestone Road, Bagworth and Thornton, who has been charged with attending a hare coursing event.
Quie Doherty, 19, of Gipsy Lane, Wellingborough, who has been charged with attending a hare coursing event.
Levi Lee, 36, of Basingstoke Road, Reading, who has been charged with attending a hare coursing event.
Roy Lee, 26, of Barrowby Vale, Grantham, who has been charged with attending a hare coursing event, failing to comply with a traffic signal, driving a vehicle with the registration mark obscured and driving a motor vehicle in a dangerous condition.
Samuel Sheady, 45, of Heol Cefnydd, Wrexham, who has been charged with attending a hare coursing event and breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order.
These are among 25 people in total who were charged. A further 11 of these will appear at the same court next Friday (September 19).
https://www.cambridge-news.co.uk/news/local-news/court-live-updates-men-accused-32464364