William McPhee was photographed at the aerodrome by a neighbour who saw the dog come within five metres of catching a brown hare.

Poaching and hare coursing are offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act 1981 and perpetrators can face jail.

McPhee, 49, of Gartgill Stables, Coatbridge, admitted illegally using a dog to attempt to intentionally or recklessly to kill, injure or take a brown hare on July 1, 2017.

PC Lindsay Kerr, wildlife crime liaison officer for Police Scotland’s Fife Division, said: “We welcome the conviction of William McPhee in relation to hare coursing crimes committed in the Glenrothes area.

Source: The Courier

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