Gavin Chapman, a 48-year-old from Preston, has been handed a two-year nationwide Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) following a successful prosecution by Kent Police’s Rural Task Force. The sentencing, which took place at Margate Magistrates’ Court on January 30, 2026, concludes a case that began when Chapman was caught engaged in illegal hare coursing in the Birchington area.
The investigation was sparked on Saturday, January 18, 2025, when members of the public reported suspicious activity along Dane Road. Witnesses described seeing a man walking a rural track with dead hares slung over his shoulder, accompanied by an unleashed white and brown Lurcher. Shortly after the initial sighting, a green vehicle was observed travelling along the same track and stopping near a hedgerow.
Officers arrived on the scene just 20 minutes after the call. Upon locating the vehicle, they found Chapman with fresh blood staining his clothing. While he claimed the blood was the result of an injury his dog had sustained, the evidence suggested a different story. A search of the immediate vicinity led to the discovery of a monocular discarded in a nearby bush—which Chapman admitted was his—and three dead hares hidden under the hedgerow only ten feet from his car.
During his interview, Chapman admitted to being at the location and confirmed he owned both the dog and the monocular, yet he maintained he was simply using public footpaths and denied any involvement in hunting. However, the court found him guilty of being equipped for searching or pursuing hares with dogs. Beyond the two-year CBO, Chapman received an 18-month conditional discharge and was ordered to pay a fine. The restrictions imposed by the order are significant and apply across the entirety of England and Wales.
The CBO dictates that Chapman is strictly prohibited from owning or being in control of a dog on any private land without the express permission of the landowner. Additionally, he is now legally required to keep any dog in his care on a lead while in public, unless the dog is muzzled. These measures are designed to curb further poaching activities and provide rural communities with protection against similar illegal conduct.
Police Sergeant Darren Walshaw said:
‘This is a positive outcome for the rural community, and I welcome the restrictions imposed by the court. His prosecution sends a clear message that this kind of behaviour will not be tolerated and those who choose to engage in hare coursing should expect legal action. Hare coursing is illegal across the UK, and we will continue to pursue the toughest penalties available to us. It is not a harmless pastime; it is a deliberate and cruel act inflicted on a protected species.’