TWO men have been fined after being spotted using powerful lamps and dogs to hunt wild animals.
Richard Tunstall, 27, of Brignall Moor Crescent, Darlington, and Christopher Parsons, 26, of Minster Walk, Hurworth, Darlington, both pleaded guilty at Northallerton Magistrates Court to entering land as a trespasser at night with poaching equipment.
The court heard on Saturday, January 3, volunteers for North Yorkshire wildlife crime fighting network Borderwatch, attended land near East Cowton, between Darlington and Northallerton, and witnessed lamping in various fields belonging to different landowners.
Poachers use lamps to reveal the eyeshine of animals, which often remain still and stare at the light.
The Borderwatch patrol noted details of the poachers' vehicle and contacted North Yorkshire Police.
Tunstall and Parsons were each fined £115, ordered to pay costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £20.
In addition, the court ordered that their lamping light and battery pack were to be destroyed.
PC John Wilbor, wildlife crime officer for the Richmond Rural area, said: “In this instance, the early sighting and report by the Borderwatch patrol allowed us to gather compelling evidence to convict these two poachers."
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