A man in the UK has been sentenced for illegal poaching following an investigation.
40-year-old Hugh Connors, with an address at Starling Walk, Hampton, Richmond-upon-Thames, was convicted in his absence of one count of daytime trespass in pursuit of game – poaching – in a hearing.
He was handed a £750 fine, along with a surcharge of £75 and court costs of £775 at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, February 26th.
Incident
The court heard that at 10.35am on Sunday, November 10th, Connors was stopped and searched after he was witnessed trespassing on land with dogs at a farm between the A4130 and Slade End in Wallingford.
He was subsequently arrested and charged the same day.
‘Great distress to the rural community’
Sergeant Robert Maris of the Didcot and Wallingford Neighbourhood Team said: “Daytime poaching causes great distress to the rural community.”
“Not only can their crops be damaged, but they often face intimidation if they challenge the behaviour.”
“South & Vale officers were able to catch Connors in the act of trespassing in pursuit of game and were able to pursue a conviction resulting in significant fines.” he added.
