On Monday 7th March 2022 three individuals Matthew Vann (26) of The Boulevard, Edenthorpe, Ellie Scorer (21) of Tennyson Road, Bentley, and Lewis Hill (21) of Bentley Road, Bentley, were found guilty at Bridlington Magistrates Court of hunting wild mammals with dogs and killing deer at night. Vann was also convicted of criminal damage and off-road driving.

On 21 December 2020, police attended reports of a car driving through a farmer’s field and the sound of an animal being attacked by dogs. When they arrived at the scene they found a Subaru Forester. The three accused were in the vehicle together with four lurcher-type dogs and a number of high-powered lamps. A search of the field revealed extensive damage caused by the vehicle being driven over it and a dead deer showing signs of having been mauled to death by large dogs.

Vann, Scorer and Hill were each sentenced to an eight-week prison sentence suspended for 12 months, a rehabilitation activity requirement, forfeiture of lamps, £600 costs and £120 compensation. No order was made in respect of the dogs.

As the deer was abandoned before officers arrived this offence seems to have been committed with the sole aim of deriving pleasure from the savage killing of a wild mammal.

Humberside Police are to be commended for their prompt response resulting in the individuals being caught in the act. This is not an easy offence to detect if the perpetrators manage to leave the scene.