LANDMARK HARE COURSING TRIAL BEGINS

Eastern Daily Press

A landmark trial began this morning with a prominent Norfolk landowner accused of permitting illegal hare coursing events on her estate.

Mary Birkbeck, 77, is charged with attending and facilitating the events at her estate in Little Massingham, between November 2007 and January 2008.

Two others - Les Anderson, 80, of Lodge Road, Feltwell, and Robert Fryer, 41, from Tring in Hertfortshire - are also standing trial at King's Lynn Magistrates' Court for attending the events.

Hare coursing, a country sport in which greyhounds are judged on their ability to chase and “turn” a hare, was outlawed when the Hunting Act was enforced in 2005.

Today's case is believed to be the first of its kind to be brought by the RSPCA since the legislation was introduced.

Stephen Welford, defending, said the events at Massingham were sanctioned by the police as they were classified as field trials, which are exempt from the hunting ban.

The trial continues.

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