Five men convicted of offences in Hampshire under new hare coursing legislation

Five men have been convicted of hare coursing offences in Hampshire under newly introduced legislation, following an investigation by the specialist Country Watch team.

Sections 63 & 64 of the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022 have seen the introduction of the new offences of trespass with intent to search for or to pursue hares with dogs, and being equipped for searching for or pursuing hares with dogs.

This is the first time Hampshire & Isle of Wight Constabulary has secured charges and convictions under this particular legislation since it was introduced in April 2022.

On the evening of 18 January this year, police received a report that a group of people had driven onto farmland in the Itchen Abbas area, damaging crops in the process, before they began hare coursing in a field.

Police were deployed to the area and located the vehicles – a Mercedes and a Jeep – before the Jeep reversed and collided with a police car. Once police detained the Jeep’s occupants, the vehicle was searched and officers located three Lurcher dogs, five dead hares, bolt croppers and a lamp.

The Mercedes meanwhile left the scene and was followed by police to Southampton where the occupants were detained. Inside the vehicle were two more Lurcher dogs, two dead rabbits, a slingshot and a lamp.

Following enquiries, five people were charged with offences and pleaded guilty in Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 3 August:

• Leonard Pinnick, aged 36, of Montgomery Road in Southampton pleaded guilty to trespass with intent to search for or to pursue hares with dogs, and being equipped for searching for or pursuing hares with dogs.
• Shane Jefferies, aged 27, of Hornbeam Close in Hedge End pleaded guilty to trespass with intent to search for or to pursue hares with dogs, and being equipped for searching for or pursuing hares with dogs.
• Lloyd Jefferies, aged 35, of Tanhouse Lane in Botley pleaded guilty to trespass with intent to search for or to pursue hares with dogs, being equipped for searching for or pursuing hares with dogs, criminal damage, and dangerous driving.
• Martin Tony Buckland, aged 19, from Hound Road in Netley, pleaded guilty to trespass with intent to search for or to pursue hares with dogs, and being equipped for searching for or pursuing hares with dogs.
• Martin Eli Buckland, aged 40, from Hound Road in Netley, pleaded guilty to trespass with intent to search for or to pursue hares with dogs, being equipped for searching for or pursuing hares with dogs, criminal damage, and dangerous driving.

They were all bailed to appear at the same court for sentencing on 25 September.