As a result of an intelligence lead operation, Wildlife Crime Officers successfully secured the conviction of four men involved in hare coursing in Stirling and Borders area. 

On Monday, 29 April 2020, a silver Subaru Forester was stopped by police officers near to Kippen roundabout, Stirling. 

Steven Brown (31), William McPhee (53), William McPhee (31), and Alexander McAllister (47) were arrested and charged with hare coursing offences throughout Stirling and the Borders. The car and dogs were seized.

The men were sentenced at Edinburgh Sheriff Court on Monday, 6 February, 2023.

Hare coursing is a wildlife crime where dogs such as sight hounds namely lurcher type dogs are used to illegally chase, catch, injure and kill hares. 

All were found guilty which resulted in a driving ban, disqualification from owning dogs, community payback order and compensation order totalling 720 hours and £1,300.

Source: Police Scotland