Poacher who had hawk and ferrets sentenced

A poacher who brought a Harris hawk and ferrets to hunt game at the Bolton Abbey estate in North Yorkshire has been sentenced to a 10-year criminal behaviour order.

Michael Watt, 37, of Marl Hill Crescent, Preston, was also found with a live rabbit in a net, hunting traps and falconry equipment when the police searched his van at Threshfield last October.

He admitted daytime trespassing in pursuit of game, causing unnecessary suffering to an animal and one count of resisting a constable in the execution of duty at Harrogate Magistrates' Court on Friday.

The order bans Watt from keeping birds of prey or ferrets, and places restrictions and conditions on hunting and entering land.

He was also ordered to pay £461 in fines, costs and other charges.

Prior to his arrest, Watt had been reported to police for poaching on the Bolton Abbey estate and other parts of Craven.

The animals in his possession were taken to animal rescue specialists so they could be properly cared for, according to North Yorkshire Police's Rural Task Force.

PCSO Mark Allison described the case as "highly unusual" because of Watt's possession of a Harris hawk.

"Poaching often involves other offences including aggressive behaviour, illegally entering land, the criminal damage that entails and animal cruelty," he said.

He added the taskforce aimed to deal with poachers and other criminal activity "decisively".

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