'Hare courser' who ran down farmer jailed

A suspected hare courser who deliberately ran over a farmer in his 4x4 after being spotted on his land was today jailed for two and half years.

Brant Broughton based farmer Andrew Ward aggravated an old leg injury which required surgery after he was knocked to the ground by the escaping vehicle.

Convicted poacher Billy Price denied being the person who was driving the pick-up style truck but was found guilty of causing actual bodily harm to Mr Ward after a three day trial at Lincoln Crown Court.

40-year-old Price, from Newark, was cleared of driving dangerously at Mr Ward's 4x4 as the farmer's son-in-law, Eoin Gallagher, pursued the suspected hare courser and his companion along Stragglethorpe Lane.

During the trial the jury were played a 999 call made by Mr Gallagher shortly after his father-in-law was struck by Price's vehicle.

On the tape Mr Gallagher explained: "We had trespassers on the farm and they ran over my father-in-law."

Mr Gallagher then handed the phone over to Mr Ward who told the operator: "I got out to see what they were doing and they rammed me over."

Giving evidence Mr Gallagher told the jury how Mr Ward began shouting at the 4x4 after they spotted it driving slowly along their field with two lurcher dogs alongside it.

Mr Gallagher said: "Andrew stood for a moment and then the vehicle struck him."

Price later denied being the driver, claiming he could not remember exactly where he was on the day, but insisting he would usually be having Sunday dinner at home.

The jury was told Price admitted selling his 4x4 vehicle eight days after the confrontation with Mr Ward.

Price, of Trinity Road, Newark, denied causing actual bodily harm to Mr Ward and dangerous driving on Sunday, January 17, this year.

After returning their verdicts the jury heard Price had previous convictions for poaching, driving while disqualified and affray.

Passing sentence Judge Michael Heath told Price anybody who used a car as a weapon would be sent to jail.