Seven men been fined after being caught poaching in the Cotswolds. Dean Dallow, Malcolm Fletcher, Lee Garrington, David Quinn, Scott Richards, Craig Richards and Richard Smallman all admitted coursing - hunting for rabbits or hares with dogs.

The gang - six from the West Midlands and one from Worcestershire - appeared before Cheltenham magistrates.

Crown Prosecutor Sharon Jomaa described how they were caught with lurchers overnight on January 7 near Dumbleton.

She said: "Head gamekeeper Ryan Wells received information that people were on the estate with high-powered lamps.

"After investigating he found they were using lurchers to hunt rabbits.

"He saw at least one rabbit killed. Others were thrown into hedges, already dead."

The gang each chose to represent themselves at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court.

They were warned to take proceedings seriously as they stood before chairman of the bench Mike Harper. But none offered any response to the allegations.

Dallow, 21, of Wednesbury, Garrington, 29, of Pershore and Craig and Scott Richards, 32 and 19, both of Rowley Regis, were fined £400 for their part, because of a previous conviction for the same offence.

Fletcher, 33, and Smallman, 20, both of Tipton, and Quinn, 43, of Brierley Hill, were given £300 fines.

Tony Bell, manager of Cheltenham Animal Centre, expressed his disappointment at the level of the fines.

He said: "From a police point of view it's great they've been caught.

"But I would have liked to have seen a more severe sentence. We went out on the night in question to collect the dogs.

"We brought about seven lurchers and greyhound types back with us that clearly weren't being looked after properly. At least two required veterinary attention."

Tony said he was disappointed the dogs have since been returned to their owners. He wanted to see them confiscated, along with the vehicles used in the crime.

"It's within the powers of the magistrates to take their vehicles, which are expensive 4x4s," he said.

"Perhaps if they exercised those powers it would stop these people from offending again."