Courser was hare’s breadth from jail term
Jun 17 2005
Perthshire Advertiser
A MAN who was caught hare coursing escaped with community service at Perth Sheriff Court.
James MacDonald (32), Kirkcaldy, admitted hunting a hare with dogs on a field near Kilgraston School, Bridge of Earn, last September.
The court heard that there were lurcher dogs involved in the incident, which was filmed.
MacDonald’s solicitor Steve Lafferty said his client comes from a travelling family and they have a “long tradition” of hunting for rabbits.
He continued: “On this day he was visiting friends and they intended poaching rabbits but they saw a hare and pursued it instead.
Story continues
“They were going to use the rabbit for food. There were three dogs in the attack and one belonged to MacDonald.”
Sentencing MacDonald to 120 hours of community service, Sheriff Michael Fletcher told him: “The court treats an offence like this very seriously.”
MacDonald was also banned from keeping dogs for three years.
He could have faced a fine of £5000 or even a spell in prison.
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