Three men have been charged in connection with hare coursing, being in charge of a dog worrying livestock and trespassing with intent to search for or to pursue hares with dogs.
Following a Thames Valley Police investigation, 42-year-old Denny Loveridge of Mill Place, Datchet, 42-year-old Mark Loveridge of Milton Close, Horton, Berkshire, and 22-year-old Jack Beldom of Montrose Way, Datchet, were all charged with one count each of the offences on Tuesday (February 14).
The charges relate to offenders using dogs to chase hares in fields in the Letcombe Basset area of Oxfordshire at around 4.50p.m on Monday (February 13).
The dogs also circled a flock of sheep and one sheep was later found dead in the field, police said.
The offenders then drove at speed through farmers fields in a 4×4 before leaving the scene.
Denny Loveridge was also charged with one count of using a motor vehicle on a road without third party insurance.
The Loveridges and Beldom were released on conditional bail and are due to appear at Oxford Magistrates’ Court on March 21.
Illegal sheep slaughter
In other related news, Dyfed-Powys Police’s rural crime team is investigating the illegal slaughter of a sheep after a farmer found a yearling lamb skin in a field in the Llanfair Caereinion area.
No other parts of the sheep were found and the skin had been removed by someone with the required skill, the team said.
It is believed that the slaughter took place between February 9 and 13, 2023.
The team warned that the meat from the sheep could “pose a health risk” if it entered the food chain.
It has appealed for anybody with information that could help its officers with their investigation to report it to the rural crime team through email or by calling 101.
