Two men found guilty and fined for hare coursing offences in Ringwood

Officers received reports of hare coursing on Sunday 13 September 2020 at around 6.55pm close by to Lower Bisterne Farm Estate in Ringwood.

A local resident had been walking their dogs when he noticed two men in an adjacent estate field and grew suspicious, after he had witnessed them flushing a hare and then releasing a dog in order to pursue the hare.

The two men attempted to flee the scene in their vehicle which was parked close by, but were blocked from leaving by the estate associates and eventually fled on foot.

Following police enquiries, the two men were subsequently arrested a short while later. They were then reported for summons on suspicion of poaching offences, namely trespassing in pursuit of game.

Stephen Cooper, aged 29, of Rockley Road in Poole, Dorset and Shane Aaron Manyweathers, aged 29, of Frobisher Avenue in Poole, Dorset both appeared at Southampton Magistrates court yesterday (12 October).

They were both convicted of poaching offences and each ordered to pay a fine of £1,050.

PC Matthew Thelwell of Hampshire Constabulary’s CountryWatch team, said: “We will always support our local rural communities by prosecuting those who wish to conduct or be involved in blood sports such as hare coursing, where evidence allows.

“Damage to farm land and property is never acceptable and will not be tolerated. We will always seek to explore relevant lines of enquiry in order to identify and bring those responsible to justice.”