Lincoln Magistrates' Court Sentencing Results

Explore 15 verdicts at Lincoln Magistrates' Court (Lincoln). Updated with the latest court outcomes.

Billy Joe Saunders

Trespassing with dogs for hare coursing

September 4, 2025

Sentence: Disqualified from keeping dogs for 5 years, 60 hours of unpaid work, pay £3,375 compensation, £85 costs, £114 victim surcharge, and a 5-year criminal behaviour order

Billy Joe Saunders, along with others, drove from the south of the country to Lincolnshire to engage in hare coursing. On October 9, 2024, they were found in a silver Mercedes with two lurcher-type dogs, a catapult, ball bearings, and a locking knife. Videos on his phone showed hares being chased and caught in a muddy field near Welland Bank, with Saunders encouraging the activity. The group was stopped by police after acting suspiciously.

Pleaded guilty to trespassing and being equipped to search for hares with dogs; banned from entering Lincolnshire, Rutland, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire, Nottinghamshire or Derbyshire between July 31 and April 30 each year.

Sources: lincsonline.co.uk

Maurice John Smith

Trespassing with dogs for hare coursing

September 4, 2025

Sentence: Disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years, 120 hours of unpaid work, pay £3,375 compensation, £85 costs, £114 victim surcharge, and a 10-year criminal behaviour order

Maurice John Smith, along with others, drove to Lincolnshire to engage in hare coursing. On October 9, 2024, they were found in a silver Mercedes with two lurcher-type dogs, a catapult, ball bearings, and a locking knife. A video showed him using a thermal camera in the Welland Bank area, and the group was stopped by police after acting suspiciously.

Sources: lincsonline.co.uk

Noah Stanley

Trespassing with intent to pursue hares with dogs

September 4, 2025

Sentence: 5 years disqualification from keeping dogs, 60 hours unpaid work, and payment of £3,375 compensation, £85 to CPS, and £114 victim surcharge

On October 9, 2024, Noah Stanley and others were caught in Lincolnshire with dogs used for hare coursing, travelling in a mud-covered silver Mercedes ML. The group had items like a catapult and locking knife, and was reported for suspicious behaviour.

Pleaded guilty to trespassing with intent to search for or pursue hares with dogs and being equipped for it. Also subject to a 5-year Criminal Behaviour Order. Aged 54.

Sources: lincolnshirelive.co.uk

Noah Stanley Junior

Trespassing with dogs for hare coursing

September 4, 2025

Sentence: Disqualified from keeping dogs for 5 years, 60 hours of unpaid work, pay £3,375 compensation, £85 costs, £114 victim surcharge, and a 5-year criminal behaviour order

Noah Stanley Junior, along with others, drove to Lincolnshire to engage in hare coursing. On October 9, 2024, they were found in a silver Mercedes with two lurcher-type dogs, a catapult, ball bearings, and a locking knife. Videos on a phone showed him walking in a muddy field, releasing a dog to chase and catch hares near Welland Bank, and the group was stopped by police after acting suspiciously.

Sources: lincsonline.co.uk

Noah Stanley Senior

Trespassing with dogs for hare coursing

September 4, 2025

Sentence: Disqualified from keeping dogs for 5 years, 60 hours of unpaid work, pay £3,375 compensation, £85 costs, £114 victim surcharge, and a 5-year criminal behaviour order

Noah Stanley Senior, along with others, drove to Lincolnshire to engage in hare coursing. On October 9, 2024, they were found in a silver Mercedes with two lurcher-type dogs, a catapult, ball bearings, and a locking knife. Videos showed a dog being released to chase hares in a muddy field near Welland Bank, and the group was stopped by police after acting suspiciously.

Sources: lincsonline.co.uk

Charles Lee

Being equipped for searching or pursuing hares

August 28, 2025

Sentence: £1250 fine

Charles Lee was stopped by police on October 10 in a black Ford Focus on Main Road, Gedney Dyke, after a report of men and dogs chasing prey on arable land at Holbeach St Marks. The vehicle had a mud-smeared number plate and contained four sight hound dogs, slip leads, a camouflage jacket, and mobile phones. He was charged with being equipped for searching or pursuing hares.

Pleaded not guilty but found guilty at trial. Must pay compensation of £7140 for kennelling and welfare costs, plus £162.50 in CPS costs and a £500 victim surcharge. Handed a Criminal Behaviour Order banning entry to Lincolnshire and other specified counties during hare coursing season with dogs or poaching instruments. A deprivation order was made for the dogs.

Sources: lincsonline.co.uk

Joseph King

Being equipped for searching or pursuing hares

August 28, 2025

Sentence: £750 fine

Joseph King was stopped by police on October 10 in a black Ford Focus on Main Road, Gedney Dyke, after a report of men and dogs chasing prey on arable land at Holbeach St Marks. The vehicle had a mud-smeared number plate and contained four sight hound dogs, slip leads, a camouflage jacket, and mobile phones. He was charged with being equipped for searching or pursuing hares.

Pleaded not guilty but found guilty at trial. Must pay compensation of £7140 for kennelling and welfare costs, plus £162.50 in CPS costs and a £300 victim surcharge. Handed a Criminal Behaviour Order banning entry to Lincolnshire and other specified counties during hare coursing season with dogs or poaching instruments. A deprivation order was made for the dogs.

Sources: lincsonline.co.uk

Elijah King

Being equipped for searching or pursuing hares

August 28, 2025

Sentence: £750 fine

Elijah King was stopped by police on October 10 in a black Ford Focus on Main Road, Gedney Dyke, after a report of men and dogs chasing prey on arable land at Holbeach St Marks. The vehicle had a mud-smeared number plate and contained four sight hound dogs, slip leads, a camouflage jacket, and mobile phones. He was charged with being equipped for searching or pursuing hares.

Sources: lincsonline.co.uk

Elijah Moore

Being equipped for searching or pursuing hares

August 28, 2025

Sentence: £750 fine

Elijah Moore was stopped by police on October 10 in a black Ford Focus on Main Road, Gedney Dyke, after a report of men and dogs chasing prey on arable land at Holbeach St Marks. The vehicle had a mud-smeared number plate and contained four sight hound dogs, slip leads, a camouflage jacket, and mobile phones. He was charged with being equipped for searching or pursuing hares.

Sources: lincsonline.co.uk

Jake Boyton

Shoplifting

June 7, 2025

Sentence: Ordered to pay compensation of £136 and compulsory reduction in benefits

Jake Boyton stole electric toothbrushes worth £95 from Sainsbury’s in Lincoln and items worth £41 from the Original Factory Shop on June 4, 2025. He also committed criminal damage by smashing a shop window at a store in Spalding on June 5, 2025, as captured on doorbell camera footage.

Jerry Connors

Hunting a wild mammal with dogs

May 29, 2025

Sentence: Fine of £875, compensation of £4,929.83, victim surcharge of £350, 3-year Criminal Behaviour Order, and Deprivation Order for dogs and items

Jerry Connors was involved in hare coursing on land at Crowland on March 12, 2023, where four men with dogs were reported chasing hares. They drove a blue Daihatsu Terios fast over a field, kicking up mud, and attempted to escape police by abandoning the vehicle and running, with Jerry trespassing onto a railway line. He was charged and found guilty of hunting a wild mammal with dogs under the Hunting Act 2004 and trespassing with intent to pursue hares under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.

Found guilty in absence after failing to attend trial; warrants issued for arrest; prohibits entry to specified counties with dogs or poaching instruments.

Sources: lincolnshirelive.co.uk

Edward Connors

Hunting a wild mammal with dogs

May 29, 2025

Sentence: Fine of £875, compensation of £4,929.83, victim surcharge of £350, 3-year Criminal Behaviour Order, and Deprivation Order for dogs and items

Edward Connors was involved in hare coursing on land at Crowland on March 12, 2023, where four men with dogs were reported chasing hares. They drove a blue Daihatsu Terios fast over a field, kicking up mud, and attempted to escape police by abandoning the vehicle and running, leaving dogs behind. Two men, including Edward, jumped ditches but were apprehended. He was charged and found guilty of hunting a wild mammal with dogs under the Hunting Act 2004 and trespassing with intent to pursue hares under the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.

Found guilty in absence after failing to attend trial; warrants issued for arrest; prohibits entry to specified counties with dogs or poaching instruments.

Sources: lincolnshirelive.co.uk

Stephen Ellis

Theft

May 29, 2025

Sentence: Fine of £562, £200 in costs, £225 victim surcharge, £300 in compensation, and a five-year restraining order

Stephen Ellis, who worked as an independent driver, stole money from the purse of 94-year-old Joan Kimberley, whom he had befriended over 16 years. The thefts were captured on CCTV shortly after it was installed, and involved him using a newspaper to conceal the purse. This betrayal left Joan feeling heartbroken, anxious, and unsafe in her own home in Horncastle.

Owen Blades

Murder

May 15, 2025

Sentence: Life imprisonment with a minimum term of 35 years

On June 13, 2024, Owen Blades murdered 69-year-old John Connolly at his home on Portland Street, Lincoln. Blades, who did not know the victim, carried out a day of violence that included assaulting another man at Merkur Slots, committing an aggravated burglary, stealing from Tesco, and possessing an offensive weapon. The victim was found dead five days later, and Blades was already in custody for other crimes at that time.

Pleaded guilty to murder and other charges. Sentences for other offences, including grievous bodily harm, aggravated burglary, theft, and possession of an offensive weapon, run concurrently.

Sources: lincolnshirelive.co.uk