Holbeach hare coursers fined by court

Two men have been fined after appearing in court for hare coursing.

A member of the public called police after seeing men with a lurcher dog which was chasing a hare in Sutton St James on November 27.

Officers from Operation Galileo found the men nearby with a Green Subaru Forrester. They were searched and binoculars and a slip lead were found along with two lurcher dogs in the boot of the car. The men maintained throughout that they were simply walking their dog.

Following a trial at Boston Magistrates Court last week, William Gaskin (37) and Mark Gaskin (40) both of Rose View Drive, Holbeach, were found guilty of hunting a wild mammal with a dog and trespassing in pursuit of game.

The judge fined them each £800 with £300 costs and ordered the Subaru to be forfeited.

PC Nick Waters, a dog handler with the East Midlands Operations Support Service, said: “Officers from Operation Galileo would particularly like to thank members of the local community for their assistance in bringing these two men to justice.”