
Wick deer attack leads to first hunting with dogs sentencing
A man whose dog attacked and injured a deer has become the first person in Scotland to be convicted and sentenced under new hunting legislation.Nickolas Chenier, 56, was using his golden lurcher for hare coursing - an illegal practice involving dogs chasing and killing hares - when it went after the deer near a cemetery in Wick.Members of the public tried to protect the severely injured deer, before Chenier appeared and killed the animal with a knife.He was prosecuted under the Hunting With Dogs Act (Scotland) Act, which came into force in 2023, and fined £750 and banned from owning a dog for five years.
Chenier pleaded guilty at Wick Sheriff Court.
Carcass found
The court heard that the incident happened near Olrig cemetery in March last year.While being chased, the deer broke a front leg and was running on its knees when the dog caught up with it and attacked.Chenier was seen killing the deer and then putting it in the back of a van.Police later found the carcass hanging in an outbuilding at his cottage.DNA analysis matched the deer's hair and bones with samples taken from the site of the attack.The lurcher's DNA was also found on the deer.Following sentencing, Iain Batho, of the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: "Whilst it was not Nickolas Chenier's intention for his dog to attack and injure a deer that day, this incident shows that using dogs to hunt wildlife can have additional serious and unforeseen consequences."

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles

Leader Live
a day ago
- Leader Live
REVEALED: How much North Wales Police spends on drones
A Freedom of Information (FOI) Act request published on its website asked: "For each year between 2020 and 2024, how many drones has your police force operated?" and "How much money has been invested in your police forces drone program, for each year between 2020 and 2024?" That revealed that between 2020-2022, the force had four drones in their ranks, which cost £405,768 (Only started towards end of financial year 2020/21, so 2020/21 and 2021/22 costs included). In 2022/23, that moved up to seven drones at a cost of £398,784. In 2023/24, that figure was 11 drones at a cost of £488,229. And this year, the total now stands at 15 drones used by the force, at a cost of £581,725. The drones are used in a number of cases, for example, to track down missing people or to catch criminals red handed. The FOI further reveals that North Wales Police operates a dedicated team of drone operators and additional pilots who have other primary roles. It also adds that training a drone pilot costs around £1,000 with a course taking place over 13 days. The Police and Crime Commissioner for North Wales, Andy Dunbobbin, hailed the use of drones as an 'indispensable part of policing'. He added that there are plans in place to continue investing in such technology to deal with 'challenges' face within policing. READ MORE Mr Dunbobbin said: "In recent years, the use of drones has become an indispensable part of policing and fighting crime. "For example, they have proved effective in cases of missing persons, where drones are able to scan landscapes and reach remote locations faster and more effectively than traditional means. "Prior to becoming Police and Crime Commissioner, I had a professional background in IT and the digital sphere and so I recognise how important it is to keep pace with changes in technology. "My Police and Crime Plan for North Wales pledges to continue to invest in technology and digital skills to deal with the challenges we face in policing, both now and into the future. "I fully support North Wales Police and their drone unit in making the most of drones and other developing technologies for the benefit of the public and in fighting crime.'


Daily Record
3 days ago
- Daily Record
Drugs mule caught with £1m cannabis haul 'stuffed in suitcases' at Cairnryan port
Chace Cappellie tried to traffick the class B drug via his vehicle from a Stena Line ferry from Belfast to Cairnryan. A drugs mule was snared with over £1m worth of cannabis stuffed in suitcases, after a routine search of his car by two Scottish port security officers. Chace Cappellie, 33, was found with a huge stash of the class B drug in his vehicle at Cairnryan in Dumfries and Galloway. He had been attempting to ship the haul from Northern Ireland into Scotland via a Stena Line ferry. But his operation was unravelled by two port security officers who were working in connection with the Border Force, after they conducted a routine check. During the search, the officers found a single suitcase containing the drugs. After the discovery, a more thorough search was conducted. This lead to the discovery of five more suitcases, containing 92 vacuum-sealed plastic bags, which gave off a strong smell of cannabis. A further 110 bags were then found hidden within the other bags, containing a massive 108kg worth of cannabis. The total value of the seized drugs was estimated to have a street value of up to £1,085,160. Cappellie, of Halesowen in the West Midlands, was convicted at the High Court in Glasgow after he admitted to being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug. He was jailed for three years and two months on Friday. Moira Orr, who leads on major crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: 'This individual failed in his attempt to bring significant quantities of illegal and harmful drugs through Scotland. 'Chace Cappellie has now been held accountable thanks to an extensive Border Force operation, working with COPFS, to disrupt a network of drug supply. 'These drugs would have inflicted serious harm on communities, but with each case of this kind we are reducing that risk. 'We are targeting all people who threaten communities across Scotland, not only drug couriers but also those who direct their movements.' It comes after another Scottish drugs trafficker who flooded the UK with millions of pounds worth of heroin was ordered to pay back just £42,000 earlier this week. Christopher Heaney, from Anstruther in Fife, was jailed for nine years in February 2024 after profiting £120,000 from the £7m cross-border heroin conspiracy. The 48-year-old, alongside four others, were busted by cops following the arrest of a bent police officer in May 2022. Steven Creasey, an ex-police officer who had also worked for the Royal Navy, was stopped while driving his vehicle to Fife having already travelled from his home in Cardiff to Liverpool the same day. A drugs dog sniffed out a professionally installed hide under the passenger seat of his car, which was found to contain a 5kg stash of heroin and one kilogram of adulterant. A burner phone also found in his possession revealed that the former cop had been operating as a professional drugs courier engaged by the heads of a gang based in Liverpool. Their drugs were then distributed for onward supply across the UK by Heaney and three others. A Proceeds of Crime Act (POCA) hearing was held at Cardiff Crown Court on Thursday. It heard how despite profiting around tens of thousands of pounds as part of the operation, Heaney was ordered to pay back a fraction of £42,000 Judge Lucy Crowther ordered him to pay the sum within three months. If he fails to do so, he will face an additional 18 months in jail.


Daily Record
3 days ago
- Daily Record
Drugs mule caught with £1m cannabis haul during routine search at Cairnryan port
Chace Cappellie tried to traffick the class B drug via his vehicle from a Stena Line ferry from Belfast to Cairnryan. A drugs mule was snared with over £1m worth of cannabis after a routine search of his car by two Scottish port security officers. Chace Cappellie, 33, was found with a huge stash of the class B drug in his vehicle at Cairnryan in Dumfries and Galloway. He had been attempting to ship the haul from Northern Ireland into Scotland via a Stena Line ferry. But his operation was unravelled by two port security officers who were working in connection with the Border Force, after they conducted a routine check. During the search, the officers found a single suitcase containing the drugs. After the discovery, a more thorough search was conducted. This lead to the discovery of five more suitcases, containing 92 vacuum-sealed plastic bags, which gave off a strong smell of cannabis. A further 110 bags were then found hidden within the other bags, containing a massive 108kg worth of cannabis. The total value of the seized drugs was estimated to have a street value of up to £1,085,160. Cappellie, of Halesowen in the West Midlands, was convicted at the High Court in Glasgow after he admitted to being concerned in the supply of a controlled drug. He was jailed for three years and two months on Friday. Moira Orr, who leads on major crime for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS), said: 'This individual failed in his attempt to bring significant quantities of illegal and harmful drugs through Scotland. 'Chace Cappellie has now been held accountable thanks to an extensive Border Force operation, working with COPFS, to disrupt a network of drug supply. 'These drugs would have inflicted serious harm on communities, but with each case of this kind we are reducing that risk. 'We are targeting all people who threaten communities across Scotland, not only drug couriers but also those who direct their movements.' It comes after another Scottish drugs trafficker who flooded the UK with millions of pounds worth of heroin was ordered to pay back just £42,000 earlier this week. Christopher Heaney, from Anstruther in Fife, was jailed for nine years in February 2024 after profiting £120,000 from the £7m cross-border heroin conspiracy. The 48-year-old, alongside four others, were busted by cops following the arrest of a bent police officer in May 2022. Steven Creasey, an ex-police officer who had also worked for the Royal Navy, was stopped while driving his vehicle to Fife having already travelled from his home in Cardiff to Liverpool the same day. A drugs dog sniffed out a professionally installed hide under the passenger seat of his car, which was found to contain a 5kg stash of heroin and one kilogram of adulterant. A burner phone also found in his possession revealed that the former cop had been operating as a professional drugs courier engaged by the heads of a gang based in Liverpool. Their drugs were then distributed for onward supply across the UK by Heaney and three others. It heard how despite profiting around tens of thousands of pounds as part of the operation, Heaney was ordered to pay back a fraction of £42,000 Judge Lucy Crowther ordered him to pay the sum within three months.