Three individuals, including a 14-year-old, have been convicted for hare coursing offenses in Wiltshire. Henry Janes, Jamie Janes, and the unnamed teenager pleaded guilty at Swindon Magistrates' Court on February 9 to trespassing with the intent to search for or pursue hares with dogs.
The group was apprehended near Sevington after a 4x4 vehicle was spotted entering a field shortly before midnight on October 15. Witnesses reported seeing three men using lamps, accompanied by three dogs. Upon searching the vehicle, Wiltshire Police discovered three lurcher dogs in cages and seven dead hares.
Hare coursing, the illegal pursuit of hares using dogs, is prohibited under the Hunting Act 2004.
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Jamie Janes, 24, of Cardiff, received an exclusion order banning him from entering Wiltshire—except for transit on the M4 motorway or authorized detours—for one year. He was also fined £300, ordered to pay £500 in compensation, and cover legal costs and surcharges totaling £205.
Henry Janes, 18, of Pontypool, received a 12-month conditional discharge and a £26 surcharge. The 14-year-old was given a six-month conditional discharge and a £20 surcharge.
PC Adam Neish praised the swift action of local residents in identifying the suspects, stating, “Hare coursing is a cruel and illegal act, and we are committed to protecting rural communities by bringing offenders to justice.”