FOUR men are due to appear in court in connection with an alleged poaching incident in Dorset following an investigation by rural crime officers.

Dorset Police received a report around 9pm on Friday, July 30 of suspected poaching offences in a rural area near Blandford.

The men alleged to have committed a poaching offence are John Frederick Burton, aged 28, of Basildon, Essex; Tommy Edward Catanach, aged 24, of Romford, Essex; William Holmes, aged 21 of Milton, Cambridgeshire; and Levie Lee, aged 19, of Stondon Massey, Essex.

A spokesman from Dorset Police said: "We received a report at 8.59pm on Friday, July 30 of suspected poaching offences in a rural area near Blandford.

"Officers attended and four men were arrested following a search."

All four men have been issued with postal requisitions to appear at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday 8 December 2021 for an offence of trespassing in pursuit of game.