Police warning over hare-coursing as man stripped of dog and car

POLICE IN North Yorkshire have warned they 'will not tolerate' hare-coursing after a court stripped an offender of his dog and car.
Inspector Jon GraingeInspector Jon Grainge
Inspector Jon Grainge

John Latcham, 28, was spotted allowing a lurcher dog to run loose and chase a hare on land at Well, near Bedale, on January 28.

The two-year-old male dog was found nearby with the carcass of a hare, and was taken by police to a secure kennels.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Latcham, from Butterknowle, Durham, was charged with hunting a wild mammal with a dog. He was found guilty in his absence at Northallerton Magistrates Court last Tuesday, where he was fined £660 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £66 victim surcharge. Forfeiture orders were made for his Ford Mondeo, a dog lead and the dog, which will now be re-homed.

Inspector Jon Grainge, of North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Taskforce, said poaching was one of six national wildlife crime priorities.

He said: “Latcham travelled a considerable distance to commit this offence.

“The sentence imposed should send a clear message that North Yorkshire Police will not tolerate this offending in our communities, and deal with all reports robustly.”