A middle-aged man who was caught hare coursing twice claimed he was “trying to relive his youth”.
James McConnachie, 54, was spotted unleashing lurcher dogs in farm fields in a bid to hunt down hares.
At one point, McConnachie, from Dundee, tried to hide his car behind a giant hay bale in a field after he realised he had been seen by a gamekeeper.
Sheriff Alison Michie ordered McConnachie to carry out 140 hours’ unpaid work in the community after he admitted two charges of attempted hare coursing.
She said: “You pled guilty to two offences occurring on two dates.
“Both were on farmland quite a distance from your home address.
“I accept no animal was killed or harmed but I think that was good fortune rather than anything else, because the risk of that happening was very present.”
She told him that she would not take the dogs away from him after being assured it was only his wife who now takes them out for walks.
Hid behind hay stack
McConnachie admitted trying to kill or injure wild hares at South Tarbrax Farm, Forfar, on 17 May, and Ballindarg Farm, Kirriemuir, on February 1.
Fiscal depute Christine Allen told Dundee Sheriff Court: “A witness observed the accused in a field hare coursing.
“She saw him with two lurcher dogs and observed him filming.
“He was filming one of the dogs running after a hare. He was arrested.
“His mobile phone was found, discarded at the side of the road.”
She continued: “The second (incident) was witnessed by two gamekeepers.
“They saw a silver vehicle in the field.
“They saw a lurcher being released from the vehicle and starting to chase a hare.
“The vehicle drove round the field a number of times until the dog was found.
“It was then driven to the top of the field and hidden behind a large hay bale stack.”
‘He has hung up his lead’
Solicitor Jim Laverty, defending, said: “There is a significant degree of remorse expressed by him.
“He accepts he abused the right to roam.
“Effectively, after this incident, he has hung up his lead.
“The dogs are looked after by his wife.
“He indicates this was an attempt to relive his youth.”
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