Vigilance of rural volunteers helps police snare nocturnal wildlife criminals

Farmers and countryside communities are playing a vital role in the war on rural crime, North Yorkshire Police said yesterday.

The comments came after two men were convicted of poaching after a patrol by volunteers spotted lamping, or night-hunting, activity and called the police.

Borderwatch volunteers attended land near East Cowton, near Northallerton, and witnessed lamping in various fields belonging to several different landowners at the beginning of January.

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Two men were seen leaving one of the fields with lurcher-type dogs and a powerful lamp and battery.

Members of the Borderwatch patrol, which sees locals alert police to issues in communities, noted details of the vehicle used by the men and contacted North Yorkshire Police.

Richard Tunstall, 27, of Brignall Moor Crescent, Darlington, and Christopher Parsons, 26, of Minster Walk, Hurworth, Darlington, both pleaded guilty to entering land as a trespasser at night with poaching equipment at Northallerton Magistrates’ Court on February 13.

They were each fined £115, ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £20. In addition, the court ordered that their lamping light and battery pack were to be destroyed.

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PC John Wilbor, Wildlife Crime Officer for the Richmond Rural area, praised the work of volunteers after the hearing saying: “In this instance the early sighting and report by the Borderwatch patrol allowed us to gather compelling evidence to convict these two poachers.

“This prosecution once again shows the value of support from the local community and Borderwatch volunteers in the fight against rural and wildlife crime – and it sends a strong message that we will deal robustly with criminals who travel to our area to commit such crime.”

For rural crime prevention advice people can visit the Force’s website: www.northyorkshire.police.uk/ruralcrime