When Craig Rooks was stopped by police and searched under the Hunting Act, his phone revealed his primitive interest in hare coursing; he referred to this as his ‘dogging phone’.
Rooks had been stopped by police in North Greetwell at around 10 am on Sunday, 14 October last year, while driving a Nissan X-Trail. Both the state of his vehicle and the equipment he had in his car suggested he was equipped for hare coursing.
The vehicle was fully searched under the provisions of the Hunting Act. Various items found in the vehicle linked Rooks directly to hare coursing activities, including two long dogs, a thermal scope, binoculars, slip leads, and rope. He was arrested on suspicion of going equipped for hunting or pursuing hares; his dogs, Bonny and Peggy, were seized, along with his car and the other equipment.
When his phone was examined, it revealed his interest and previous involvement in hare coursing, with some incidents as recent as 11 days before his arrest. Videos and voice recordings between Rooks and his friends were found, containing discussions about hare coursing, planning future trips, and bragging about how well he had done with his dogs and how good they were at killing hares.
Among the messages sent by Rooks, one described how his dog had previously “terrorised” a hare so much that it had run into a pipe, which is contrary to how a hare would normally behave.
During a police interview, Rooks claimed he had the dogs and other items with him for the purpose of going rabbiting or for flushing foxes. An investigation into his claims found this to be very unlikely; he did not have permission from a landowner to conduct either activity and could not provide the necessary authorisation.
DC Aaron Flint, our Force Wildlife Crime Officer, said: “The use of lurchers is not really a viable means of controlling rabbits. Rabbits rarely stray from their warren, are easily spooked, and are quick to run for safety underground. Likewise, flushing foxes can only be done in very limited circumstances and only to prevent serious damage to property. The landowner must have provided permission.
“Considering the claimed activities and the property Rooks had with him, I would say he was neither engaged in rabbiting nor flushing foxes to a gun.
“The equipment Rooks had with him – binoculars, a thermal scope, two lurchers, and makeshift slip leads – is much more commonly associated with illegal hare coursing.”
Rural crimes such as hare coursing have been prevalent across farms in Lincolnshire and surrounding areas. Historically, there has been a lack of understanding of the true costs of these offences and the threat and harm caused to rural victims.
Lincolnshire Police are a founding member of Operation Galileo, which is now a national response to hare coursing across the country. The operation has been very successful in reducing the cruel and brutal activity of hare coursing by identifying best practices and by using powerful deterrents, such as the confiscation and forfeiture of dogs, equipment, and vehicles.
In addition, offenders can be handed orders on conviction, including Criminal Behaviour Orders, driving bans, and compensation costs for kennelling and care of their dogs while investigations and criminal proceedings are ongoing.
During a trial at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on 30 September, Rooks, 57, of Vicarage Gardens, Todmorden, was found guilty of going equipped for searching for or pursuing hares with dogs. He was sentenced today (25 October) and was handed a Criminal Behaviour Order for 10 years, prohibiting him from entering or remaining in Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, and Nottinghamshire, in the company of anyone with dogs of any breed, from 31 July to 30 April (the recognised hare coursing season). The order also prohibits him from possessing any instruments for poaching in these five counties, either during the day or night, until 24 October 2034.
He was ordered to pay compensation of £13,125 for kennelling and vet fees, fined £100, and required to pay a victim surcharge of £114. A Deprivation Order was made, depriving him of his rights to his two long dogs, Bonny and Peggy, as well as the thermal imager and binoculars. Additionally, he was disqualified from driving for 12 months and handed a Community Order for rehabilitation activity.