BUDDY Jarrett, of Atterbury Close, Westerham, was one of three people to be caught hare coursing, where dogs are unleashed to chase down the animals.

The Vauxhall Astra car he used to transport him to Cambridgeshire to carry out the "cruel" and illegal country pursuit was this week crushed by police.

Nineteen-year-old Jarrett, who was caught with two others last August, was charged and fined £215 on January 6 at Ely Magistrates' Court.

Jarrett was handed a three-month driving ban, and the Vauxhall Astra, belonging to his cousin, was crushed on Sunday following the sentencing.

In hare coursing, the competitor whose animal catches the most hares in a day wins.

The activity, which featured in Guy Ritchie's gangster film Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, has been illegal since 2005.

The RSPCA says hare coursing "causes unnecessary pain and suffering". Greenpeace dubs it a "barabaric blood sport".

Hare coursing expert and Kent Mammal Group member Greg Thompson said: "It is good to know they have actually caught a couple of people in the area.

"Hares are built for escape – they are wired for it. But the way those people do it is no doubt very irresponsible because they have no respect.

"They do a lot of damage to crops and are not good news at all."

Although the aim of hare coursing is not necessarily to kill the hares, Mr Thompson said for poachers this was the basic idea. He said bets of £25,000 were common.

But Jarrett defended his pastime, saying: "I don't think it is evil. The dogs are bred for it and enjoy a good runaround – it is much less cruel then keeping them cooped up in the back garden.

"Anyway, it is nature. Cats and foxes catch birds all the time – are they going to ban cats?

"And pheasants are bred for sport – I don't see the difference.

"When the dogs catch the hares they are trained to bring them back. Then you can kill it more humanely and sell them to a butcher."

Jarrett, who still owns two whippets, admitted hare coursing is popular among many of his peers.

Although it is possible to course in the area, he said Cambridge was renowned for the sport because of its large open spaces.

He is now hoping to go to the Republic of Ireland, where it is still legal.

He said: "I don't think it should be illegal. The farmers I have spoken to all say they have a problem with hares and rabbits. It is a stereotype that all of us are dangerous and cause problems."