The court seized the Mercedes, the two dogs and the equipment found in the car, along with a mobile phone.

All four defendants were each ordered to pay £3,375 compensation for kennel fees, £85 to the Criminal Prosecution Service, and a victim surcharge of £114.

Smith, of New Fairplace Hill, West Sussex, was disqualified from keeping dogs for 10 years and must carry out 120 hours of unpaid work. He was given a 10-year criminal behaviour order (CBO).

Saunders, of Holwell Lane, Hatfield in Hertfordshire, and Stanley (54) and Stanley (26), both of Shire Lane, Buckinghamshire, were disqualified from keeping dogs for five years and must each do 60 hours of unpaid work. They were all given a five-year CBO.

The CBOs mean the men are banned from entering Lincolnshire, Derbyshire, Leicestershire, Northamptonshire and Nottinghamshire with dogs or poaching equipment between 31 July and 30 April.

PC Chris Windsor-Beck, from the Lincolnshire Police rural crime action team, said: “Hare coursers are drawn to Lincolnshire because of its flat, open terrain… but our team is fighting back with every report.

“They are not welcome here, or anywhere else in the county.”