Three men have been fined almost £800 for poaching after being caught on private land with nine dogs, eight dead rabbits, a catapult, ball bearings and a hunting knife.

Officers were called to a report of trespassing on farmland in Queenborough, Sheppey, where they found the men, one of whom was arrested for breaching his criminal behaviour order (CBO) already in place for similar offending.

The incident took place on October 21 last year and saw officers seize the dead animals and poaching tools.

Later the same day, Sydney Samuels was charged with breaching a CBO and with trespassing in pursuit of game.

Albert Wilson and Jimmy Adcock were summonsed to court for trespassing on land in pursuit of game.

All three appeared before Medway Magistrates’ Court last week, where they pleaded guilty to the charges.

Wilson, 29, of Cradducks Lane, Staplehurst, and Adcock, 32, of Limpsfield Road, Warlingham, Surrey, were each fined £300, plus £205 in other costs.

Samuels, of Castle Rough Lane, Kemsley, was fined £80, plus nearly £200 in other costs and ordered to carry out 120 hours’ unpaid work.

Investigating officer Sgt Darren Walshaw said: "The east of England regularly suffers incidents of illegal hunting.

"Those involved are often linked to other offences, which can have an extremely adverse impact on the rural community.

"Others thinking of poaching should be aware that our seven-force collaboration was formed to create a borderless approach to address countryside crimes.

"We are working alongside the Crown Prosecution Service to reduce the number of reported incidents and prosecute those who choose to continue with this activity."