Two night poachers who killed pheasants with catapults in a rural area near Canterbury have been sentenced. Two men aged 18 and 19 admitted the offence before Folkestone Magistrates.
Patrols became suspicious of a Ford Fiesta parked near farmland in Pie Factory Road, Barfrestone, at around 10pm on 23 September 2025. It followed a report made to police around 15 minutes earlier that bright lamps had been seen on private land nearby in Woolage Village. Those inside the car were detained and searches were completed. Six deceased pheasants, along with one fatally wounded bird, were seized. The injured bird was subsequently euthanized.
Four catapults were recovered from the vehicle, along with 200 ball bearings, three head torches and a large lamp. Two men were arrested on suspicion of night poaching and taken into custody. The pair from Dover, were later charged with trespassing on land at night and taking and destroying game. After pleading guilty, the pair were sentenced on 13 February 2026. Both men received community orders, requiring them to complete 100 hours of unpaid work, pay costs and a victim surcharge. The poaching equipment was ordered to be destroyed.
Sgt Darren Walshaw, from Kent Police’s Rural Task Force, said:
‘Night poaching is a criminal offence that causes real suffering to animals and birds and significant concern to rural communities. The pheasants killed inhumanely by the offenders in this case were taken purely for the poachers’ own gain, with no regard for the pain they inflicted with catapults or consideration of those who live and work in the area.
‘Kent Police is committed to protecting our countryside from this type of illegal activity. We will continue to work closely with landowners and residents to ensure those who choose to offend in this way are identified and brought before the courts.’