Eastbourne men caught poaching rabbits during lockdown

Three men caught poaching wild rabbits at a nature reserve during lockdown have been sentenced.
Three men have been convicted of poaching rabbits SUS-200921-101317001Three men have been convicted of poaching rabbits SUS-200921-101317001
Three men have been convicted of poaching rabbits SUS-200921-101317001

Ben Catt, Tyler Earwalker, and Bobby Hopkins were caught leaving Arlington Reservoir on March 26 with nets, shovels, seven dogs and two ferrets.

According to police, one of the trio admitted they were testing the ferrets’ ability to flush rabbits.

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The three 20-year-olds appeared at Hastings Magistrates’ Court last month charged with daytime trespass in pursuit of game - poaching.

The trio were spotted trespassing at Arlington Reservoir (Photo by Jon Rigby)The trio were spotted trespassing at Arlington Reservoir (Photo by Jon Rigby)
The trio were spotted trespassing at Arlington Reservoir (Photo by Jon Rigby)

Police say Catt, of Park Croft in Polegate, and Hopkins, of Kensington Way in Polegate, were both fined £500 with costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £50.

While Tyler Earwaker, of Shalfleet Close in Eastbourne, was fined £120 for the offence and a further £120 for possessing an air rifle during a period when he had been banned from doing so, said police.

He was ordered to pay £85 costs, a £32 victim surcharge, and was jailed for 12 weeks having activated a previously suspended sentence imposed for burglary with intent to steal, police said.

The air rifle was forfeited for destruction.

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