Man arrested as police raid Bransgore address in deer and hares cruelty probe

POLICE raided a Bransgore property and arrested a man in connection with a series of incidents involving cruelty to deer and hares.

A warrant was executed at the address yesterday (Monday) by officers from Dorset’s rural crime team and Hampshire Constabulary.

This followed investigations into the animal cruelty incidents, said to have taken place in Dorset, along with other offences.

The 23-year-old was arrested on suspicion of eight counts of animal cruelty, two offences of killing or injuring a deer, criminal damage to crops, three counts of assisting an offender, driving otherwise than in accordance with a licence and conspiracy to steal.

Officers also seized a dog believed to have been used in poaching-related offences, as well as other items.

Enquiries are ongoing in a bid to track down two other suspects believed to be linked to the incidents.

The rural crime team’s Insp. Richard Jeffrey said: “We take reports of cruelty to animals very seriously and we have demonstrated how we will work with other forces to take a positive response.

“We will continue to work with our rural communities to investigate incidents of this nature and value the information and support they provide."