Sir Mark Prescott: attended two hare coursing events in March 2007

  PICTURE: Edward Whitaker  

Prescott pleads guilty to hare coursing charge

SIR MARK PRESCOTT and TV chef Clarissa Dickson-Wright were convicted at Scarborough Magistrates Court on Tuesday of attending two hare coursing events in north Yorkshire in March 2007.

The practice, in which hares are pursued by greyhounds, was banned by the Hunting Act 2004.

The pair pleaded guilty at a private prosecution brought by the International Fund for Animal Welfare although neither attended the hearing.

The court was told the two hare coursing days - the first near Nunnington and the following day near Amotherby - were deliberately designed to skirt the law.

In July, former champion jumps trainer Peter Easterby and Major John Shaw were found guilty of permitting land to be used for the same events. They had claimed they were not aware that what was taking place on their land was illegal.

Defence for Prescott and Dickson-Wright told the court both had been invited to the events and believed it had all been legal.

Both defendants received an absolute discharge, and nocosts were awarded against them.

However district judge Kristina Harrison said anyone convicted of such offences in future would be "dealt with most strenuously".

She added she believed the organisers hadtried to stay within the law, but complexities within the Hunting Act made its administration "difficult" at first.

Afterwards Prescott commented: "I think it just shows what a minefield and what an appalling (piece of)legislation it is."