‘Barbaric’: Owner of hare-coursing dog that attacked deer in Caithness cemetery is first to be sentenced under new hunting law
A man whose dog chased, attacked and injured a deer while the dog was being used to hunt hares at a Caithness cemetery has become the first person in Scotland to be convicted and sentenced under new hunting legislation.
Nickolas Chenier (56) admitted to using his golden lurcher for hare coursing on land near a cemetery in Castletown in March last year. During the course of this, the dog chased and attacked the deer.
Members of the public who witnessed the incident managed to intervene and prevented the dog from continuing to attack the deer. The deer’s injuries were severe, and Chenier used a knife to kill the stricken animal.
At Wick Sheriff Court this week, Chenier was fined £750 and banned from owning or having a dog in his control for five years after admitting to an offence under the Hunting With Dogs Act (Scotland) Act, which came into force in 2023.
Iain Batho, who leads on wildlife and environmental crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: “COPFS takes offences of hare coursing and any other hunting with dogs offences seriously and action will be taken against individuals where there is sufficient evidence of a crime and where it is in the public interest to do so.
“Hare coursing is a cruel and illegal act that can have a wide-ranging impact on both wildlife and rural communities. Whilst it was not Nickolas Chenier’s intention for his dog to attack and injure a deer that day, this incident shows that using dogs to hunt wildlife can have additional serious and unforeseen consequences.
“I welcome this first conviction under the Hunting with Dogs Act (Scotland) Act 2023 and, in particular, the message sent out about the court’s powers under that legislation to ban offenders from owning or having dogs for a period of time.
“Our specialist wildlife prosecutors will continue to work to ensure those committing offences by hunting with dogs are brought to justice.
“I would encourage anyone who may have information on such criminality to contact the police.”
Sheriff Neil Wilson described Chenier’s actions as “a serious matter” and added that the court had the power under the legislation to send him to prison or impose a fine of up to £40,000.
The court heard how two witnesses saw a golden lurcher chasing the deer from a field into a car park at Olrig cemetery in March 2024.
The deer was losing speed due to a broken front left leg and could eventually only run on its knees.
The witnesses then saw the dog take the deer to ground and bite its legs and neck.
After they formed a huddle to protect the deer, Chenier appeared and confirmed the dog belonged to him.
Asked what he intended to do with the injured deer, he told them: “I’ll deal with it. I have a knife in the van.”
The two witnesses then walked away separately but looked back to see Chenier had killed the deer and placed it in his van.
The incident was reported to the police and officers later carried out a search of the accused’s cottage and found a golden lurcher in a kennel, which matched the description given by the witnesses.
Constable Daniel Sutherland, wildlife crime liaison officer for Police Scotland, said: “This was excellent partnership work with Scotland’s Rural College (SRUC) and Science and Advice for Scottish Agriculture (SASA) to bring this case to a conclusion.
“The deer was found hanging within the home address of Chenier and DNA work carried out on the carcass by SASA was crucial as it matched the hair and bone fragments found within the Olrig area. Female dog DNA was also found on one of the swabs taken from the deer carcass.”
Chenier was living at Reaster Cottage, Wester Bridge, Lyth, at the time of the offence, but the court heard that he had since moved to Inverness.
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Constable Erin Robinson at Thurso police station said: “Deer and hare coursing are barbaric and have no place in society. This often results in severe suffering for the animals and the dogs involved.
“I hope this sentence sends a clear message to those who commit these types of crimes that we will investigate and work with partners to seek prosecution.”
Members of the public who suspect hare or deer coursing is taking place are urged to call Police Scotland on 101 or 999 in an emergency.
If anyone has information regarding individuals whom they suspect of being involved in these types of crime, they can also provide information anonymously through Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.
