CONVICTED (2023) | serial hare courser Fred Holmes, born c. 1963, of Eye View Travellers Site, Thorney Road, Eye, Peterborough PE6 7UA – for trespassing on private land and using dogs to chase and kill hares in Lincolnshire and Northamptonshire.
Following a report of hare coursing in Low Road, Crowland, on November 13, 2022, officers from Lincolnshire Police’s Rural Crime Action Team attended and located Fred Holmes, who appeared to be equipped with dogs on the land.
Holmes was subsequently charged with trespass in pursuit of hare and going equipped for trespass.
Northamptonshire Police joined the investigation as he was also suspected of hare coursing in Warmington on October 23, 2022.
Holmes was already subject to a community protection notice in Northamptonshire after committing similar offences previously, and his three lurcher-type dogs were seized alongside his mobile phone.
The joint force investigation resulted in Holmes being charged with two counts of trespass in pursuit of game, and two counts of being equipped to trespass in pursuit of hares.
Despite initially denying the Northamptonshire offences, at Boston Magistrates’ Court on November 10, 2023, he entered guilty pleas to all four counts.
Sentencing | ordered to pay £16,783.50 for the kennel costs of keeping the three dogs since their seizure, as well as fines for the two trespass offences and two victim surcharges, making a total of £18,557.50. Three-year criminal behaviour order which prevents him from entering any private land in Lincolnshire, Northamptonshire or Cambridgeshire with a sighthound, greyhound, long dog or lurcher type dog or cross breed, or being in the company of anyone with this kind of dog on private land, during the recognised hare coursing season (July 31 – April 30). Deprivation order for three dogs; forfeiture of thermal imaging equipment and a Citroen car. Banned from keeping dogs for 10 years (expires November 2033).