Man found in possession of hare coursing equipment following police chase at Holbeach St Marks must pay £12,000

A man found with hare coursing equipment following a police chase has been ordered to pay more than £12,000.

Horse trainer Albert Eastwood has also been hit with a 10-year criminal behaviour order with stipulations banning him from entering Lincolnshire and four other counties during hare coursing season, as well as being told he cannot keep dogs for 15 years.

The 28-year-old was one of four men who ran from a Mercedes vehicle after it crashed during police pursuit at Holbeach St Marks in January, Boston Magistrates’ Court was told.

In the vehicle officers discovered three dogs, slip leads, walkie talkies and a dog tracking device while Eastwood’s phone was later found to have images and messages relating to hare coursing.

“At 9.30am on January 27 police responded to a call from a member of the public regarding hare coursing at Middle Marsh Road and Eastern Road,” said prosecutor Jade Salter.

“The vehicle was driving over farmland and a short pursuit followed before the vehicle was abandoned, having crashed.

“Four men ran off in various directions over fields and dykes. The defendant was seen running away to the back of a property, where he was arrested.”

Ms Salter told magistrates Eastwood’s mobile phone was seized and ‘voice messages talking about hare coursing’ were found.

“There was video and audio relating to hare coursing and stills showed men with long dogs and dead animals on the bonnet of a vehicle.”

Eastwood - who has five previous convictions for day poaching and was convicted of daytime trespass in search of game two days before this incident - pleaded guilty to being equipped for pursuing hares with dogs when he appeared in court in Wednesday (September 11).

Defending Eastwood, Jason Patel said his client didn’t realise he was going coursing that day.

“He was going with them to land where he believed they had permission to hunt rabbits,” he explained.

“Once up there the others expressed an intention of what they were doing.”

The prosecution called for Eastwood, of Denton Close, Redhill, Surrey, to foot the kennelling bill of £11,536.50 for the dogs.

Mr Patel argued the defendant was seen on police body cam footgae saying the dogs weren’t his upon his arrest, and was unable to sign them over to the police as that would have been fraudulent.

However, magistrates ordered Eastwood to foot the bill as well as paying a £750 fine and £85 court costs.

He was also banned from keepoing dogs for 15 years and handed a behaviour order than prohibits him entering Lincolnshire, Nottinghamshire, Leicestershire, Derbyshire and Northamptonshire with dogs or coursing equipment between July 31 and April 30 for the next decade.