Four Rotherham men caught in anti-poaching operation

The charges bought against the men at Rotherham Magistrates’ Court were in relation to an incident in January at Aston Common, Rotherham, in which they were found day poaching.

The four were found during the South Yorkshire-wide Operation Dunlin, which aims to tackle rural crime and wildlife persecution across South Yorkshire.

They are are Ross Staples (25), of Gildingwells, Jamie Proctor (22), of Woodsetts Rd, Gildingwells, Paul Hubbuck (40), of Central Avenue, Dinnington, and Scott Gough (33), of Park Avenue, North Anston.

The men originally denied the offence, but pleaded guilty to the charges when they appeared at court.

Magistrates ordered them to pay a combined total of £150 court charges, £60 victim surcharge and receive a £215 fine.

Supt David Hartley, the lead officer for wildlife crime for South Yorkshire Police said: “I am delighted with this conviction as we are aware that this type of offending is a priority of our rural community.

"This result shows we do listen to the concerns of rural communities and will continue to take effective action to tackle the issue of rural crime.”