Four admit roles in hare coursing rampage

Cambridgeshire Police's chief constable previously apologised for what he described as a failure to deal with rural crime

Four people - including a13-year-old boy - have pleaded guilty to being involved in hare coursing and disorder earlier this year.

Dozens of 4x4s were reported to have descended on fields and villages across the Cambridgeshire Fens on 25 January.

So far 25 people have been charged as part of the investigation led by Cambridgeshire Police.

Three men, from Northamptonshire, Berkshire and Leicestershire, and a 13-year-old boy appeared at Peterborough Magistrates' Court earlier this month and admitted various offences. They received fines or will be sentenced in October.

Rural communities affected by the hare coursing included Fordham, Ely, Prickwillow, Littleport, Chatteris, Manea, Wimblington and Doddington - all in Cambridgeshire - and Welney in Norfolk.

The incidents included reports of hare coursing, criminal damage, and dangerous driving.

Farmers said their crops were torn up and property was damaged.

At the time of the incident, Cambridgeshire's Chief Constable Nick Dean apologised for what he said was a "failure by the police" to deal with rural crime.

Ten other police forces were involved in the case as well as the National Rural Crime Unity (NRCU) and the National Wildlife Crime Unit.

Cambridgeshire Police said on 25 January it received more than 40 calls relating to hare coursing incidents

More than 40 people were arrested resulting in 25 people being charged.

Four admitted the following offences:

• Levi Lee, 36, of Three Mile Cross, Reading, Berkshire, pleaded guilty to attending a hare coursing event (under the Hunting Act 2004) and is awaiting sentence

• Miles Doran, 34, of Bagworth and Thornton, in Leicestershire, pleaded guilty to attending a hare coursing event and is awaiting sentence

• Francie Doherty, 47, of Irchester, Wellingborough, in Northamptonshire, pleaded guilty to attending a hare coursing event and is awaiting sentence

• A 13-year-old boy, who cannot be named because of his age, pleaded guilty to driving a motor vehicle otherwise than in accordance with a licence and having no third party insurance and he has been fined £50

Others who denied the charges are expected to appear in court again at a later date.

Det Insp Matthew Selves, who has led the investigation, said: "We recognise the serious impact these events had on our communities and the devastation they caused.

"Reaching court this month demonstrates our determination to deliver justice and to show our communities that we will not tolerate such behaviour."