Prolific hare courser has penalty increased after appealing his sentence

A poacher handed a banning order following a North Yorkshire Police investigation has had his sentence increased at court.

Ryan Thomas Spence, 33, of Redcar, became the first offender in North Yorkshire to be given a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) for hare coursing offences last year.

Spence was convicted of hunting wild mammals with dogs on farmland near Kirkbymoorside in February 2022. In September 2022, at Scarborough Magistrates Court, he was issued with a CBO, fined more than £1,000 and received a six-month driving ban.

Spence subsequently appealed the sentence, and appeared at York Crown Court on 23 February 2023. However, not only was the original sentence upheld, his driving ban was increased from six months to two years, and will now run from 23 February 2023.

The CBO remains in place, for five years from September 2022. It prevents Spence from:

• Trespassing on any land with a dog, firearm, or any item capable of firing a projectile
• Straying from any highway, bridleway, or public right of way onto any land
• Driving, or be in, a motor vehicle or mechanically propelled vehicle other than on a publicly maintained road without written permission of the landowner
• Being part of a group involved in the hunting of any wild mammals with dogs or firearms or any items capable of firing a projectile

New homes are being arranged for three dogs that were found with Spence when he was arrested.

Inspector Clive Turner, from North Yorkshire Police’s Rural Task Force, said: “The message is crystal clear – we will respond robustly to any poachers who set foot in North Yorkshire. Poaching is a serious offence which, in addition to being a wildlife crime, causes damage to property and misery in rural communities.

“Anyone thinking of committing these offences in our area can expect hefty fines, lengthy driving bans, the forfeiture of their property and court orders to put a stop to their criminal activity. With the addition of a CBO, a realistic prospect of a prison sentence can be expected for breaching the order.

“I’d like to remind everyone about the importance of calling in any suspected poaching. If it’s a crime in progress, please dial 999 so we can take immediate action – or if you have information about who may be responsible, call us on 101 or report it online via our website.”