Hare-coursing case hailed as national ‘landmark’ (From York Press)
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Hare-coursing case hailed as national ‘landmark’
8:41am Friday 31st July 2009 in News
A HARE-COURSING trial has been heralded as a landmark victory by North Yorkshire police.
The Press reported yesterday that three-times champion jumps trainer Peter Easterby had been found guilty at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court of permitting land to be used for hare-coursing.
Now the police officers behind the trial have been described as a “credit to the force”.
Steve Read, North Yorkshire’s acting assistant chief constable, has praised the officers behind the case and has claimed it as a national first.
Easterby, a 79-year-old former racehorse trainer, of Great Habton, near Malton, was also convicted of attending a hare-coursing event near Malton in March 2007.
He was convicted along with Major John Shaw, 56, of Welburn, who faced the same charges before Scarborough magistrates.
Mr Read said: “This case highlights the complexities of interpreting and enforcing the Hunting With Dogs Act.
“But it also proves that the Act can, with the requisite amount of skilful investigation, be enforced successfully.
“North Yorkshire Police officers are trained to deal with wildlife crime as part of their development. And our specialist wildlife crime officers are a credit to the force.
“This case also highlights the fact that, although we would never have sufficient officers to monitor every rural activity in a policing area which is the largest in England, we are very willing to conduct the necessary professional investigation when presented with evidence indicating that offences have been committed.
“To put it into context nationally, I believe this is the first successful prosecution pursued by a police force in England and Wales under Section 5 of the Hunting With Dogs Act since it came into force in 2005.
“I therefore congratulate the wildlife crime officer who led the investigation into this very complex and challenging case.”
Hare-coursing is the pursuit of hares with greyhounds and other sight-hounds, which chase the hare by sight and not by scent.
Shaw and Easterby denied the charges and claimed they were not aware that what was taking place on their land near Malton was illegal.
Shaw had been advised by a leading barrister that what he was doing was legal.
Both men were given an absolute discharge following the conviction and no costs were awarded against them.
Comments(15)
AdmiralNN
says...
9:14am Fri 31 Jul 09
LordSlackBladder-lll
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9:19am Fri 31 Jul 09
mztripps
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10:09am Fri 31 Jul 09
So they get a guilty verdict but no punishment? Disgusting. They should have got a proper fine and a ban on holding public or private gatherings on their land. No wonder city folk hate the country so much, they get away with (literally) murder.
bobby_spray
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10:17am Fri 31 Jul 09
sayitasitis
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10:37am Fri 31 Jul 09
Yet for years, illeagal poachers have chased down hares and rabbits with dogs for fun and /or food and the police do very little when they are caught.
bobby_spray
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10:47am Fri 31 Jul 09
sayitasitis wrote:Hear Hear. I see loads of hare coursing taking place. Usually by groups travellers. The police NEVER break these meets up. Too much chance of a bit of bother. They’d rather pick on a geriatric OAP… shame on them
This is a stupid law and the people prosecuting seem to upset that the defendants were not chasing the hares towards guns to be shot, but were allowing them to escape? Yet for years, illeagal poachers have chased down hares and rabbits with dogs for fun and /or food and the police do very little when they are caught.
sciencefan
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3:43pm Fri 31 Jul 09
Bemused
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4:08pm Fri 31 Jul 09
Steve Read, North Yorkshire’s acting assistant chief constable, has praised the officers behind the case and has claimed it as a national first.
This is bandwagon jumping in a big way, and ill advised in view of the outcome. The case is d@mn all to do with investigation by the North Yorks Police Farce, they were handed it on a plate.
TWO undercover animal welfare activists covertly filmed an alleged hare coursing event taking place on land owned by three-time champion jumps trainer Peter Easterby, a court heard.
The court was told how animal welfare activists Michelle Bryan and Joe Hashman attended the alleged hare coursing events held over two days in North Yorkshire posing as a couple.
Dave Taylor
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11:36pm Fri 31 Jul 09
Talk about being soft on crime!
Scarborough Magistrates must need their heads looking at!
These criminals, Peter Easterby, and Major John Shaw, should have recevied proper sentences like ordinary folk would if they had been convicted of harming their pets, for instance.
I hope there will be a review of the sentencing.
Bemused
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12:19am Sat 1 Aug 09
Looks like another case of good police work being undermined by the Courts.
How was it good police work?
Southern Badger
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12:51pm Sat 1 Aug 09
Bemused
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4:31pm Sat 1 Aug 09
and a police officer PRESENT ON THE DAY said it was legal
Can you elaborate, please, makes more of a nonsense of what the Asst Chief Constable is saying
Bemused
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5:31pm Sat 1 Aug 09
In this case one of them gives out duff advice and as result we have the current Mickey Mouse prosecution. Heads should roll!
Scarborough Evening News
Police defend hare-coursing case
Published Date: 01 August 2009
By Staff Copy
POLICE have defended the investigation which led to the trial and conviction of former championship racehorse trainer Peter Easterby and huntsman Major John Shaw for hosting hare-coursing events on their land.
Both men were given absolute discharges by district judge Christine Harrison, who did not make any order for costs.
The judgment in the landmark case at Scarborough Magistrates' Court was accompanied by harsh words on the Hunting Act. Judge Harrison said
"I have two gentlemen here who have never been in trouble with the courts and who took every step to ensure what they were doing was legal – and yet they find themselves in this position.
"I am also extremely concerned that a police officer attended on the first day and that Major Shaw explained to him what was going on before the police officer went off happy in his own mind with what was happening."
Bemused
says...
9:59pm Sat 1 Aug 09
The Malton & Pickering Mercury goes even further.
"I am also extremely concerned that a police officer attended on the first day and that Major Shaw explained to
him what was going on before the police officer went off happy in his own mind with what was happening.
One wonders whether Major Shaw and Mr Easterby would have found themselves in this position if the police officer
acted on that first day.
If he had said to Major Shaw he was concerned about the legalities Mr Shaw would have stopped the event and
I believe the same of Mr Easterby.
redr says...
8:47am Fri 31 Jul 09