A 14-year-old boy has been ordered to pay more than £200 by a court after admitting poaching charges.

The boy, who cannot be named, was part of a group of four who were stopped in a field in Newton Morrell, near Barton, in North Yorkshire, on July 17 last year.

The group had been seen driving a Subaru Forrester across four grass fields during which time they chased game with lurcher dogs and were reported for summons.

The 14-year-old initially pleaded not guilty to a charge of daytime trespass in the pursuit of game but changed his plea to guilty when he attended Northallerton Magistrates’ Court last Friday (May 13).

He was fined £30 and ordered to pay £190 costs.

Two men, Billy Wilson, 34, from Bishop Auckland, and Peter Roddam, also 34, from County Durham, both pleaded guilty and were fined £30 for daytime poaching, with £100 costs each.

A 15-year-old boy who also pleaded guilty received a conditional discharge.

PC John Wilbor, of Richmond safer neighbourhood team, said: "Three of them accepted their guilt and as a result received smaller fines than the 14-year-old who only pleaded guilty at the last minute.

"If you know you are guilty it is better to indicate this at the earliest opportunity and save everyone a lot of time, effort and expense.

"Rural crime is a priority in North Yorkshire and we are determined to protect our communities from people coming to our county to commit crime."

If you suspect that people are committing rural crime in your area contact your local safer neighbourhood team on 0845-60-60-247.