Police have praised a weekly newspaper in County Durham after its investigations helped expose a case of illegal hunting with dogs.
Adam Stockton, from Sudburn Avenue, Staindrop, was found guilty of hunting a wild animal with a dog alongside a juvenile from the same village who cannot be named for legal reasons.
It followed a lengthy investigation by the Teesdale Mercury which had been monitoring the pair’s actvities for some months before passing on the information to the police.
The pair were eventually convicted after the juvenile posted a series of images and comments on Facebook relating to the crimes.
Comments from the juvenile included: “Coursed 2 deer 2nyt, just missed 1 and ran a hare, LOL. I’ll get them sum time”; “Can’t wait 2 hit Stainton Grove 2nyt lamping – kill the lot.”
Some of the photographs showed Stockdale holding up the dead animals like trophies.
Stockton’s case was heard at Darlington Magistrates’ Court, where he protested his innocence, despite having admitted the offence to an RSPCA officer when he was first arrested.
But when he appeared before magistrates, Stockton said he and the juvenile had been walking when their dogs disappeared over a hill.
He said when they caught up with the dogs, they had both killed hares so they took photographs.
Stockton was ordered to pay a £100 fine and £365 costs. His dog, Sasha, which was taken from him at the time of his arrest, will not be returned.
Andy Reddick, chief superintendent at Durham Constabulary, praised the Mercury’s investigation. He said it had been a “successful operation and a good end result.”
Teesdale Mercury editor Trevor Brookes said: “In the countryside, there’s sometimes a perception by a small minority of people that everything wild is fair game.
“The law clearly says otherwise and frankly some of the pictures posted online were shocking. Working in a small community, it can be difficult to stand up and be counted when it comes to issues like these, so it’s pleasing we did.
“I’m also glad the police took the time to get in touch and thank us for our efforts – it’s not often a reporter gets the chance to solve a crime.”
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I dislike hunting of all types but this story screams ‘sanctimonious humbug’ – a local paper helping to enforce a bad, largely ignored law on behalf of the left-wing, anti-hunt RSPCA. My own dog chases rabbits – if it ever catches one I would be subject to this same silly law. The pair up before the court don’t sound the nicest of types but I’ve met some anti-hunt fanatics who make them seem like saints with their rabid hatred of humans. Taking someone’s dog off them is quite pathetic, too, especially as it penalises the poor dog for no fault of its own. I hope editor Trevor Brookes thinks about this as he polishes his halo and sinks his teeth into a battery farmed chicken sandwich.
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Oh come on onlookers. These people sounded like complete scum. The Mercury did a great job here. If only other local newspapers worked so hard to stamp out this sort of cruelty, the scum that did it wouldn’t progress into other forms of abuse.
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Im so glad this paper stood up and supported those of us who dont run rampage killing anything we can catch, my dog had been taught to kill when we got him and its taken me a long time to teach him not to, from all of us who wish this had ended in a prison sentance, thankyou, and keep it up, we will support you
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I’m sorry but the paper is there to report stories not make the news. Why do journalists try and influence events too much. You are journalists – report the news in a balanced way. It sounds like a cheap story to me…who knows how many others could have been exposed in this way, but instead an example has been made of a few unlucky hunters who no doubt will be attacked and abused by primitive animal rights activists.
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Like I said, I dislike hunting but support the right of thousands of other people who enjoy it to continue to hunt. Civilisation, after all, is built on hunting – whether we like it or not. Look at it another way – not so long ago editor Trevor Brooke and his staff could have staked out a meeting place for gays, photographed them, and had them up in court for breaking the law. Would upholding the law back then, being praised by police etc for their fine ‘work’ have been justified ? Legally, yes. Morally, no. A bad law is a bad law. By all means, prosecute hunters found to be unnecessarily cruel or dangerous in their activities. Laws already exist to do just that. But prosecuting them just for hunting is morally wrong and I, Mr Brooke and his staff – who don’t hunt – are not better people than those who do. Let the politically motivated RSPCA do its own dirty work in future.