A 36-YEAR-OLD man has escaped jail after he pled guilty to hare coursing in East Lothian and surrounding countryside.

Niall Purves, from Edinburgh, admitted four charges of committing the illegal activity in the East Fortune, North Berwick, Duns and Pathhead over a three-month period.

He was sentenced to carry out 300 hours of community payback and banned from keeping a dog for five years.

Purves committed the offences between December 2015 and February 2016.

He was sentenced at Edinburgh Sheriff Court today (WED) alongside two other men.

Allan Hales,32, Coatbridge, Lanarkshire, was given a 180-hour community payback order and banned from keeping a dog for three years after he admitted one charge of hare coursing in Duns, Scottish Borders.

A third man John Baird, 48, of Airdrie, Lanarkshire, was fined £360 after admitting a breach of the peace.

PC Jamie Hood, Wildlife Liaison Crime Officer for the Lothians & Scottish Borders Division, said: "Hare coursing is a cruel death for an animal. Furthermore, this activity and the behaviour of perpetrators causes distress to the people who live and work in rural communities, and risks the worrying of livestock.

"We will investigate all reports of hare coursing and I'd encourage those who live, work and visit the countryside to remain vigilant in reporting any suspicious behaviour to us.

"Anyone with concerns or information about hare coursing is urged to contact us, or report this anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111."

Gemma Cooper, Legal and Technical Policy Manager for NFUS, said: "NFU Scotland is very encouraged to hear of the sanctions handed down in this case.

"Hare coursing remains a live issue for many of our farming members, and we are aware that often there are links to other types of rural crime and serious organised crime.

"This instance sends out a clear message that it has no part in our working countryside. We would continue to urge NFUS members to report any suspicious activity such as this to Police Scotland on 101."