East Dorset Man Convicted Of Illegal Hunting In West Dorset

A man has been handed a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) following a detailed investigation led by the Dorset Police Rural Crime Team into a report of assault and theft at a hunting incident in West Dorset.

Shane Chapman, aged 34 and of Verwood, pleaded guilty to two charges of assault and theft during a hearing at Poole Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 19 July 2024.

This was in relation to an illegal hunting incident that took place on Tuesday, 26 September 2023, in which Chapman assaulted one victim and stole the property of another in the Minterne Magna area of West Dorset.

Following a further hearing at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court on Friday, 21 February 2025, a five-year CBO was secured, imposing the following restrictions on Chapman:

1. Not to act or incite others to behave in an anti-social manner, that is to say a manner that causes harassment, alarm, or distress to any persons.
2. Not to be on any private agricultural land without prior written permission from the owner or legal representative of the land and to produce any such written permission when asked to do so by a police officer. Agricultural land is land used as arable, meadow, or grazing land for the purpose of farming, market gardens, allotments, nursey grounds or orchards.
3. Not to enter any farm premises, yard, barns, outbuildings, gardens, driveway, or any other such land attached to those premises.
4. Not to cold call at any residential or business premises. Calling at any residential address or business premises can be made with a prior appointment and agreement by the occupant or a person with authority to act on behalf of the occupant.
5. Not to be in possession of a wild animal, wild bird or part of a wild animal or bird living or dead in Dorset without being able to prove where it came from.
6. Not to be in possession of a catapult or shot such as ball bearings, pebbles or similar items capable of being used as shot or be in a vehicle with catapult or such shot, in a place to which the public have access or private land as a trespasser.
7. Not to attend any location where there is a hunt taking place, whether that be pre planned, informal or organised.
8. Not to attend, loiter or be near any hunt activity or to associate with any person linked with any hunt at the time of such activity. Should he find himself in such a position he must remove yourself immediately.

Police Constable Sebastian Haggett, of the Dorset Police Rural Crime Team, said: “We will continue to take proactive action to prevent and deter rural crime and protect our communities.

“I would like to reserve special thanks for the Dorset Council Anti-Social Behaviour Team who have worked in partnership with us on this case so that Chapman could be brought before the courts to be held accountable for his actions.

“Finally, I would urge members of the public to please contact the police if Chapman is seen to breach the terms of his order so that the matter can be investigated.”