Guilty again on hunting offence

A convicted poacher who "wilfully ignored" warnings to stay off a property has been sentenced on further unlawful hunting offences.

Glen Phillip Terry (40), of Alexandra, was found guilty of trespass and unlawful hunting on Ida Valley Station on May 9, 2017, after a defended hearing in the Alexandra District Court in November last year.

Terry had denied the charges, claiming he had not gone on to the property and had not gone hunting, but two farmers had seen him there with hunting dogs in his truck.

Terry had initially denied having dogs with him, but changed his evidence midway through his hearing and admitted dogs may have been with him.

Judge Emma Smith sentenced him in the Alexandra District Court yesterday and said Terry already had a 2016 conviction for "exactly the same charge".

The Otago Daily Times reported in October 2016 that Terry had admitted a joint charge of killing a wild pig at Shag River Forest, Palmerston, on March 12, 2016.

Judge Smith said there was no evidence Terry did actually hunt on Ida Valley Station, but under the Wild Animal Control Act a person was presumed to be hunting if they were on a property with hunting paraphernalia,

"The law says if you have dogs [with you], you were there to hunt."

Counsel for Terry, Joseph Mooney, sought a conviction and discharge as he said the guilty conviction was enough penalty.

It was possible Terry would now lose his gun licence, which would further affect a business Terry was involved with.

Judge Smith said Terry knew he was trespassed from Ida Valley Station and "wilfully ignored" that and was "not the slightest bit remorseful" for his offending.

Terry had received a fine for his poaching conviction in 2016 and Judge Smith said she was unwilling to merely convict and discharge him for the 2017 offending.

He was sentenced to 40 hours' community service and $130 court costs.


 

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