Two Fat Ladies TV chef pleads guilty to illegal hare coursing

Dickson Wright, from Inveresk, Midlothian, and Sir Mark Prescott admitted attending two hare-coursing events in north Yorkshire.

Neither defendant appeared in person at Scarborough Magistrates' Court for the private prosecution, which was brought by the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).

The court heard Dickson Wright, a former barrister who found fame in the television cookery series Two Fat Ladies, and Prescott, of Newmarket, Suffolk, admitted attending one hare-coursing event on 2 March 2007 near Nunnington, and another the following day near Amotherby, both organised by the Yorkshire Greyhound Field Trialling Club (YGFTC).

Hare coursing, in which hares are pursued by dogs like greyhounds, was banned by the Hunting Act 2004. It also illegal in Scotland under devolved legislation.

John Cooper, prosecuting for the IFAW, said that while dogs were muzzled during the events, "it in no way ameliorates the suffering that the hare would feel from the chase".

He added that the events were "consciously trying" to "blur the distinction and avoid prosecution under the Hunting Act."

Last month, three-time champion jumps trainer Peter Easterby and Major John Shaw were found guilty of permitting land to be used for hare coursing at the same events. The pair were also convicted of attending the event. Both denied the charges and claimed they were not aware what was taking place on their land was illegal.

In mitigation for Prescott, Stephen Welford said his client was invited by the YGFTC, which believed it was running a legal and "above-board" event.

He said the club sought advice from a firm of solicitors and leading counsel and received insurance. A police officer attended the event on the first day but left a short time later.

Barry Warburton, for Dickson Wright, said his client had also been invited and thought the event was legal.

Both defendants, neither of whom have any previous convictions, received an absolute discharge and no costs were awarded against them.

But district judge Kristina Harrison said future offenders would be dealt with more seriously. She said: "I don't want anybody to be under any illusion that I was doing anything other than saying what they did was wrong and it was unlawful.

"What I had sympathy with was there were complexities within the Hunting Act which made the administration of it a little difficult at first.

"I hope this case makes it perfectly clear to anybody who wants to undertake this type of event: forget about what an expert says is hare coursing, forget about what hare coursing was before. If what's happening fits within the definition set down by parliament within the Hunting Act, it's hare coursing. It's unlawful, people will be prosecuted and will be dealt with severely."

She said she believed the event would have been stopped if anyone had told the organisers it was illegal and said the two defendants had "held their hands up" once told what they had done was wrong.