Man found hare coursing in West Lancashire and Chorley issued with Criminal Behaviour Order

A man has been issued with a Criminal Behaviour Order after being caught hare coursing in West Lancashire and Chorley.

Last year, on Sunday 5th October 2025, Lancashire Police’s South Rural Task Force received reports of two men, with lurcher type dogs, believed to be hare coursing on private land in Ormskirk and later Croston.

An investigation began and, following arrest, and a search of their vehicle, items and equipment used for hare coursing were discovered and seized.

At Burnley Magistrates Court last week, Tuesday 29th September 2026, John Doran, 32, of Queen Eleanor Road, Northampton, pleaded guilty to four poaching offences, including hunting wild mammal with dogs and trespass with intent to search for or to pursue hares with dogs.

He has been given a £1160 fine and issued with a 5-year CBO with the following conditions:

·        Banned from owning lurcher, lurcher type dog, or sighthound of any type anywhere in England and Wales.

·        Not to be in Lancashire in possession of any lurcher, lurcher type dog or sighthound of any type.

·        Not to be in Lancashire in company with another or otherwise associating with another person or persons who is or are in possession of any lurcher, lurcher type dog or sighthound of any type.

·        Not to trespass on any land in Lancashire whilst in possession of a lurcher, lurcher type dog or sighthound of any type whilst in company of or otherwise associating with another person or persons who is or are in possession of any lurcher, lurcher type dogs or sighthound of any type.

Another man, Joel Miller, 29, of Bryn Crescent, Rhyl, also pleaded guilty to four poaching offences and was issued with a £1205 fine. In January 2026, he was issued with a 7-year Criminal Behaviour order for hare coursing in Humberside, banning him from trespassing on private farmland, having sighthounds unleashed on any private land without permission, being in a vehicle where there are sighthounds present and driving any vehicle on private land, footpath or bridlepath.

PC Sean Dalby from the South Rural Task Force said: “Hare coursing has a devastating impact on our rural communities. As well as causing cruel and horrendous suffering to wildlife, it often involves damage to farmland, trespassing, intimidation and threats towards those who challenge offenders.

“Farmers and landowners should not have to live with the fear and frustration that this criminality brings.

“Criminal Behaviour Orders are an important step in preventing further offending and demonstrate our determination to protect rural communities and take robust action against those involved in hare coursing."