Two Surrey men charged with illegal hare coursing and trespassing in Wiltshire, to appear in court Feb. 18.

Two Surrey men, Thomas Ball, 34, and Franky Smith, 31, have been charged with hare coursing and trespassing after being found in fields near Stanton St Bernard, Wiltshire, on January 2, 2026. Officers responding to a report discovered a vehicle and pursued the men, who fled toward the Alton Barnes White Horse. Police located them with three lurchers and charged them with being equipped to pursue hares with dogs and trespassing with intent to do so. Hare coursing is illegal in the UK. Both men were released on bail and are to appear at Swindon Magistrates Court on February 18.