Nickolas Chenier, 56, was convicted under Scotland’s Hunting With Dogs Act 2023 after using his golden Lurcher for hare coursing near a cemetery in Wick in March 2024. The dog chased and severely injured a deer, which Chenier ultimately killed with a knife. Witnesses intervened to protect the deer but saw Chenier confirm ownership of the dog and later kill the animal, placing it in his van. Police later found the dog, matching the witnesses’ descriptions, and the deer’s carcass at Chenier’s property.

At Wick Sheriff Court, Chenier was fined £750 and banned from owning or controlling a dog for five years. This case marked the first conviction under the new legislation, with authorities emphasising the serious consequences of hunting with dogs and the importance of protecting wildlife and rural communities.