Three men convicted of poaching wildlife in Sadberge, near Darlington

Anthony Foster, Edward Foster, and Scott Revell were caught last year after a police officer noticed them releasing Saluki and lurcher breed dogs to chase hares on private farmland.

The trio pled guilty to charges when they appeared in front of Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, May 16.

Foster, 31, of East Howle, Ferryhill, was ordered to pay a £200 fine; Foster, 30, of Japonica Way, Norton, Stockton, was fined £120, and Revell, 35, of Somerset Road, Stockton, was fined £150. All three were also ordered to pay court costs and a victim surcharge.

Rural officer, PCSO Andy Cusick, was on patrol around Bishopton Lane, in Sadberge, near Darlington, on October 2 last year when he noticed two suspicious vehicles parked on Hillhouse Lane.

The officer carried out a search of the nearby area, where he saw the trio walking several dogs across private farmland.

Using specialist camera equipment, he videoed the men as they looked through a thermal imaging monocular before releasing their dogs to chase a hare that had broken cover.

The three men were reported for poaching and interviewed by officers, where they initially denied the offence, claiming they were just out for a walk with the dogs.

There were no public footpaths through the fields and the landowner had not given the men permission to be on the land.

Sergeant Karl Lowe, from Darlington Neighbourhood Police Team, said: “This type of offending is not only cruel to wildlife but has a profound impact on rural communities, causing damage to crops and farmland which can be extremely costly for the farmer or landowner to resolve.

“PCSO Cusick’s tenacity and his use of specialist camera equipment to capture the suspects in the act provided irrefutable evidence to secure a conviction at court.

“I hope this sends a warning to others who think that illegally poaching wildlife is acceptable, that we will catch you and we will prosecute you.”