Five people have been charged with more than 80 offences following investigations into multiple rural crime-related incidents in the state’s Hunter Region earlier this year.
During March and April 2022, multiple illegal hunting and malicious damage offences were reported to police in Hunter Valley Police District.
Investigators from the Rural Crime Prevention Team commenced an investigation and were assisted by NSW DPI Hunting.
Following inquiries, officers attached to the Rural Crime Prevention Team in Hunter Valley Police District to date have issued five future court attendance notices.
Three men – two aged 23 and one 29 – and a 17-year-old boy, have been charged with a total of 81 offences relating to alleged trespass and hunting offences.
Charges include enter agricultural land with hunting dog – aggravated, enter private land to hunt animal without owner consent, and destroy or damage property-related offences.
The 17-year-old boy will appear at a children’s court today (Wednesday 28 September 2022).
The 23-year-old man will appear at Singleton Local Court tomorrow (Thursday 29 September 2022).
The second 23-year-old man will appear at Muswellbrook Local Court on Tuesday 18 October 2022.
The 29-year-old man will appear at Scone Local Court on Wednesday 16 November 2022.
A 25-year-old woman has also been issued a future court attendance notice for two counts of owner not disclose identity of driver/passenger. She will appear at Singleton Local Court on Wednesday 9 November 2022.