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A poacher who used a hawk and ferrets to capture wildlife at a scenic countryside estate has been sentenced for animal cruelty offences.
Michael Watt, 37, from Preston, was caught with a live rabbit covered in blood and trapped in a net which he'd dumped in the back of his van last October. He was found after being reported to police for poaching on the picturesque Bolton Abbey estate, in North Yorkshire, where he'd been told to leave.
Watt had used a Harris's hawk and ferrets to hunt animals in the countryside. He was charged with two counts of daytime trespass in pursuit of game, to which he pleaded guilty at the first hearing in March this year.
Watt originally leaded not guilty to failing to prevent causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and to obstructing/resisting a constable in execution of duty. However he changed his plea to guilty in July after the start of a trial.
At Harrogate Magistrates' Court on Friday, August 29, he was fined £965 and his hawk, two ferrets, two phones, nets and ferret boxes were ordered to be permanently seized. He was also given a 10-year criminal behaviour order with requirements including to keep dogs on a lead and banning him from keeping birds of prey or ferrets.
Known as 'Ferreting', the hunting technique involves releasing live ferrets to chase rodents and rabbits out of their burrows. Harris's hawks are exceptional hunters and have even been used to keep pigeons away from Wimbledon's tennis courts during the annual competition.
After the hearing, North Yorkshire Police's Mark Allison said: "This was a highly unusual poaching case with Watt possessing a Harris hawk, which are exceptional hunters. Poaching often involves other offences including aggressive behaviour, illegally entering land, the criminal damage that entails and animal cruelty.
"It's also one of the areas our Rural Taskforce specialise in, which makes it much harder for poachers and other criminals to operate in North Yorkshire, and ensures those who do are dealt with decisively."
Bolton Abbey was contacted for comment.
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