A POACHER who set his dogs to catch rabbits in a Pendle farmer’s field was detained by a farmer until the police arrived, a court heard.

Farmer John Pratt saw Joshua Varey, 21, release his lurchers on land at New Farm in Bracewell and challenged him, Burnley magistrates were told.

Later Varey told police he had been driving past the West Craven farm when he noticed the rabbits and thought he would ‘let the dogs have a do’.

Varey, of Duke Street, Colne, admitted poaching, on June 21, and was conditionally discharged for 12 months.

Enza Geldard, prosecuting, said Mr Pratt clearly saw Varey and noticed that the dogs were not wearing any leads.

The farmer challenged him and urged him to get the dogs under control and the police arrived shortly afterwards.

Magistrates heard that Varey had a previous conviction for poaching, dating back to 2007, for which he had been fined.

Lee Hammond, defending, said the poaching incident was a ‘spur of the moment’ decision rather than being premeditated.

“In order to go poaching you would expect someone to be carrying bags or knives.

"But there was none of this paraphenalia associated with this defendant,” he added.

Co-defendant Eamon Mel Fagan, who was arrested at the same time as Varey, has denied poaching.

Fagan, 37, of Bevan Place, Nelson, was bailed by magistrates to stand trial later in the year.

The prosecution comes just as Lancashire Police launch a crackdown on rural crime this week.

Thieves and poachers are in the sights of officers, who will patrol with officials from the Environment Agency and United Utilities.