A young poacher is counting the cost of his crime after a court ordered him to pay out over £200.
The 14-year-old boy, who cannot be named, initially pleaded not guilty to a charge of daytime trespass in the pursuit of game. However, when he attended Northallerton Magistrates’ Court on Friday 13 May 2011, he changed his plea to guilty.
He was fined £30 and ordered to pay £190 costs.
The youth was reported for the offence when officers stopped him and three other poachers in a field at Newton Morrell, near Barton on 17 July 2010.
The group had been seen driving a Subaru Forrester across four grass fields during which time they got out of the vehicle on several occasions and chased game with lurcher dogs.
When officers caught up with them, all four offenders were reported for summons.
Two men, Billy Wilson, aged 34, from Bishop Auckland, and Peter Roddam aged 34, from County Durham, both pleaded guilty and were fined along with a 15-year-old boy who also pleaded guilty and received a fine.
Wilson was fined £30 for being responsible for driving the Subaru across the fields and a further £30 for daytime poaching. He was also ordered to pay £100 costs.
Roddam received a £30 fine for daytime poaching and was also ordered to pay £100 costs.
The 15-year-old youth was handed a conditional discharge and ordered to pay £85 costs.
PC John Wilbor, of Richmond Safer Neighbourhood Team, said: “These poachers were caught in the act and reported for summons.
“Three of them accepted their guilt and as a result received smaller fines than the 14-year-old youth who only pleaded guilty at the last minute.
“If you know you are guilty it is better to indicate this at the earliest opportunity and save everyone a lot of time, effort and expense.
“It is pleasing that we are regularly bringing poachers before the courts and we will continue to do so. Rural crime is a priority in North Yorkshire and we are determined to protect our communities from people coming to our county to commit crime.”
Alternatively, Crimestoppers can be contacted anonymously on 0800 555 111.
