24 men in court over hare coursing in villages including Welney, Chatteris, March, Wimblington and Doddington back in January
Twenty-four men charged in connection with hare coursing and disorder that took place across Fenland in January have now appeared in court.
The appearances follow a series of coordinated arrests and seizures made in connection with a force-wide investigation into criminal activity on Saturday, January 25.
Police were initially criticised for their slow reaction to the shocking events and for not attending after 999 calls.
The events, which included reports of hare coursing, criminal damage, and dangerous driving, caused significant disruption and concern in communities including Welney, Chatteris, March, Wimblington and Doddington.
Supported by Bedfordshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Lincolnshire, Thames Valley, West Mercia, Leicestershire, West Midlands, Northampton and Essex Police, as well as the National Rural Crime Unity (NRCU) and the National Wildlife Crime Unit, Cambridgeshire officers have carried out extensive inquiries in the weeks and months since, including arrest warrants across multiple counties.
A total of 43 individuals have been arrested, and one juvenile voluntarily interviewed. Of those, 25 have been charged with a combination of 39 offences.
At Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on September 12:
- Francie Lee, 22, of Fen Road, Cambridge, pleaded not guilty to attending a hare coursing event and theft from a shop. He will appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on March 3, 2026 for trial. The Crown offered no evidence for theft and it was removed
- Tom Bower, 27, of Beck Bank, Spalding, pleaded not guilty to attending a hare coursing event, failing to comply with a traffic signal, driving a vehicle with the registration mark obscured and driving a motor vehicle in a dangerous condition, and theft. He will appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on February 5, 2026 for trial. The Crown offered no evidence for theft and it was removed
- Roy Lee, 26, of Barrowby Vale, Grantham, pleaded not guilty to attending a hare coursing event, failing to comply with a traffic signal, driving a vehicle with the registration mark obscured and driving a motor vehicle in a dangerous condition. He will appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on March 3, 2026 for trial
- Samuel Sheady, 45, of Heol Cefnydd, Wrexham, pleaded not guilty to attending a hare coursing event and breach of a Criminal Behaviour Order. He will appear at Peterborough Crown Court on October 8 for the breach of CBO and March 3, 2026 for trial for attending a hare coursing event
- Levi Lee, 36, of Basingstoke Road, Reading, pleaded guilty to attending a hare coursing event and will be sentenced on October at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court
- Miles Doran, 34, of Barlestone Road, Bagworth and Thornton, pleaded guilty to attending a hare coursing event and will be sentenced on October 20 at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court
- Tony Taylor, 23, of Sandy Lane, Stourport on Severn, pleaded not guilty to theft from a shop and will appear at Cambridge Crown Court on October 8
- Mark Harris Senior, 48, of Romany Way, Clay Lake, Spalding, pleaded not guilty to attending a hare coursing event and will appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on February 5, 2026, for trial
- Mark Harris, 21, of Romany Way, Clay Lake, Spalding, pleaded not guilty to attending a hare coursing event and will appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on February 5, 2026, for trial
- Bobby-James Harris, 18, of Romany Way, Clay Lake, Spalding, pleaded not guilty to attending a hare coursing event and will appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on February 5, 2026, for trial
- Francie Doherty, 47, of Gipsy Lane, Wellingborough, pleaded guilty to attending a hare coursing event and will appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on October 1 for sentencing
Quie Doherty, 19, of Gipsy Lane, Wellingborough, pleaded not guilty to attending a hare coursing event and will appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court for trial on February 26, 2026
At Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on September 19:
- William Deadman Senior, 47, of Bickenhill Lane, Solihull, pleaded guilty to theft from a shop. He was given a £200 fine
- Anthony Coyle, 32, of Pilgrims Lane, Grays, pleaded not guilty to attending a hare coursing event and will appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on February 26, 2026, for trial
- Fredrick Butcher, 51, of Chelmsford Road, Ingatestone, pleaded not guilty to attending a hare coursing event and will appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on February 12, 2026 for trial
- Benjamin Lee, 27, of High Meadow Farm, Melton Road, Barrow Upon Soar, pleaded not guilty to attending a hare coursing event and will appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on February 26, 2026, for trial
- Freddy-Cole Butcher, 23, of Chelmsford Road, Ingatestone, pleaded not guilty to theft from a shop and will appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on March 3, 2026, for trial
- James Herne, 24, of Fen Road, Cambridge, pleaded not guilty to attending a hare coursing event and theft from a shop. He will appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on February 12, 2026, for trial. The Crown offered no evidence for theft and it was removed
- Francis Coyle, 20, of Pilgrims Lane, Grays, pleaded not guilty to attending a hare coursing event and will appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on February 26, 2026, for trial
- A 13-year-old boy, from Solihull, pleaded guilty to driving otherwise in accordance with a licence and driving with no insurance. He was given a £50 fine and six penalty points
- Edward Stevenson, 26, of Fen Road, Cambridge, pleaded not guilty to attending a hare coursing event and will appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on February 5, 2026, for trial
- Michael Stevenson, 25, of Fen Road, Cambridge, pleaded not guilty to attending a hare coursing event and will appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on February 12, 2026 for trial
- John Lee, 24, of Fen Road, Cambridge, pleaded not guilty to attending a hare coursing event and breaching a community protection notice and will appear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on February 12, 2026, for trial
- Mark Loveridge, 45, of Milton Close, Slough, charged with driving a motor vehicle in a dangerous condition, will reappear at Peterborough Magistrates’ Court on September 26
Detective Inspector Matthew Selves, who has led the investigation, said: “Following a thorough investigation into incidents of hare coursing and violent disorder that took place in January this year, 25 individuals have been charged.
“Over the past two weeks, 24 of those have appeared in court. Some have entered guilty pleas, while others have pled not guilty and will now face trial. This marks a significant step forward in the investigation and the judicial process.
“We recognise the serious impact these events had on our communities and the devastation they caused. From the very outset, we made a clear commitment to carrying out a robust and comprehensive investigation. Reaching court this month demonstrates our determination to deliver justice and to show our communities that we will not tolerate such behaviour.”