FIVE poachers who admitted hare coursing on North Kyme farmland, as well as at other sites around the county, have received fines totalling more than £1,000.

The men, who travelled from their homes in the West Midlands to Lincolnshire to buy dogs for breeding, claim the animals ran away and began chasing a hare.

Travelling in one Vauxhall Frontera with two lurchers, they were reported to the police after being spotted trespassing in North Kyme, Nocton, Blankney Fen and Metheringham.

At 4pm on November 9, 2008, the five were arrested at Dunston Heath, near Lincoln.

Nelson Smith, 47, from Evesham, Worcestershire, Frank Roberts, 42, from Tewkesbury, Gloucestershire, Charlie Gaskin, 24, and Leonard Gaskin, 52, both from Ryton on Dunsmore near Coventry, and Jamie Davies, 24, also from Evesham, all pleaded guilty to trespassing in pursuit of game at Lincoln Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

Pat Thomas, prosecuting, said: "Clearly there was a level of intimidation towards the gamekeepers trying to protect their land.

"There was an impact on the wildlife and of the community from the fear of rural crime."

In mitigation, Bill Soughton, solicitor for Davies and Roberts, told the court the men had bought another three dogs in Lincolnshire that morning.

"It is important that we stress they came to Lincolnshire without any intention of hare coursing at all," said Mr Soughton.

"The presence of dogs in the vehicle related to hobbies of breeding and training lurcher dogs as a little bit of extra money is welcome.

"They maintain after buying these dogs they were driving along country roads and got lost.

"The dogs started to fight and they opened the back door and one of the dogs ran off.

"He was later recovered by an employee at one of the farms.

"They accepted that an act of hare coursing took place.

"There is a guilty plea as they should not have been on the land and let the dogs enter with the game on the premises."

Deputy district judge Michael Wheeler said: "I remain unconvinced about a lot of the mitigation I have heard about getting lost in Lincolnshire and lost dogs."

Davies, who is unemployed, and Roberts, a self-employed landscaper, were fined £150 plus £50 costs and the £15 Government surcharge.

Charlie and Leonard Gaskin, both casual labourers, were fined £300 plus £100 costs and £15 surcharge.

As father and son had both previously been convicted of poaching, the judge issued them indefinite Anti-Social Behaviour Orders stating they must not trespass in Lincolnshire.

Smith, a self-employed block paver and the driver and owner of the Vauxhall Frontera, was forced to hand over his car, as well as being fined £300 plus £150 costs and the £15 surcharge.