Two men from Surrey have been charged with illegal hare coursing and trespassing following a police intervention in Wiltshire.
On January 2, at around 3:15 a.m., officers from the Wiltshire Police Rural Crime Team responded to reports of hare coursing near Stanton St Bernard, close to Pewsey. Upon arrival, officers discovered a vehicle parked in a field. Two men, Thomas Ball, 34, of Queensway North, Hersham, and Franky Smith, 31, of Cobbetts Close, Normandy, were spotted fleeing the scene in the direction of the Alton Barnes White Horse.
After conducting extensive searches, police found the men in possession of three lurchers—dogs typically used for pursuing hares. Both Ball and Smith have been charged with offenses related to being equipped to search for or pursue hares with dogs, as well as trespassing with intent for the same purpose.
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Following their arrest, the men were released on bail and are scheduled to appear at Swindon Magistrates Court on February 18. Wiltshire Police continue to emphasize their commitment to tackling rural crime and protecting local wildlife.