Cambridge man fined more than £18k for hare coursing in Northants

A man has been fined more than £18,500 for using dogs to chase and kill hares in Northamptonshire. Fred Holmes was found guilty of two counts of trespass in pursuit of game, and two counts of being equipped to trespass in pursuit of hares.

On October 23 of last year, Holmes, 60, was seen in a field in Warmington in Northamptonshire with three dogs which went on to chase and kill a hare. When challenged by a witness, who told him what he was doing was illegal and asked him to leave, he assumed the person was the owner of the land.

Holmes asked to buy them a drink so they could arrange for the use of the land. Instead, the witness reported Holmes’ actions to Northamptonshire Police, where the Rural Crime Team began to investigate.