A huntsman has been sentenced after a pack of Basset Hounds were seen chasing a hare through fields in Dorset.
An investigation was launched after a report that the dogs were seen chasing the hare through fields in the Sturminster Newton area.
Charles Ford, 20 was in charge of the pack which was reportedly seen making no attempt to stop the dogs or call them away from the hare.
While there was no evidence obtained to suggest the hare was killed, it clearly showed the pack of dogs chasing the hare.
Ford of South Cheriton, Templecombe in Somerset was subsequently issued with a postal requisition to appear at court in connection with an offence under section 1 of the Hunting Act 2004 of hunting a wild mammal with dogs.
The incident took place on Sunday, October 13, 2024 and the defendant appeared at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, June 18, 2026 and was fined £648 as well as being ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £259 and court costs of £650 for hunting a wild mammal with dogs.
Police Constable Lauren Middleton, of the Rural Crime Team, said: “We are committed to investigating all reports relating to hunting offences and using available legislation to bring those responsible for committing offences before the courts.
“We have worked hard to compile evidence and this case was the first time that our force has secured a prosecution for a huntsman leading a pack of Basset Hounds for offences involving hunting a hare.”
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