The 36-year-old, who grew up in Hatfield, was fined and ordered to complete community service when he was sentenced at Lincoln Magistrates’ Court on September 4.
It comes after sight dogs used for hunting were found in his possession and videos of the crime in action were found on the the phones of Saunders and his three co-defendants, who have also been sentenced this week.
On October 9 last year, police received a call that the occupants of a silver Mercedes ML were hare coursing at Wellend Bank, near Market Deeping in Lincolnshire.
The vehicle was spotted by an officer as well as multiple members of the public, who called in reports that a vehicle matching the description was speeding, “just coming off the fens covered in mud”, and filled with people who were “acting suspiciously”.
Six people were found inside the vehicle designed to carry five, two of which were children aged 13 and 16.
A police spokesperson said that in the boot were two light-coloured Greyhound/lurcher-type dogs named George and Molly, and the car was covered in fresh mud up to its roof, indicating that it had recently been travelling off road.
Billy Joe Saunders. (Image: Lincolnshire Police) Attempts had also been made to conceal the rear number plates with mud.
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The boxer, now of Holwell Lane in Essendon, was given a depravation order for the two dogs, the the silver Mercedes car, all hare coursing paraphernalia, a locking knife and mobile phone.
He must also pay £3375 compensation for kennel and welfare fees, £85 in costs to the Crown Prosecution Service and a £114 victim surcharge.
Saunders must complete 60 hours of unpaid work and has been banned from keeping dogs for five years. He also received a five-year Criminal Behaviour Order.
Lincolnshire Police have released footage of Saunders’ arrest, which can be viewed on their X page.
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The men, Billy Joe Saunders (36), Maurice John Smith (36), Noah Stanley (54) and Noah Stanley (26) were convicted after dogs used for hunting were found in their possession and videos of the crime were found on their phones@NFUtweets
1/2 pic.twitter.com/tvrOZuUEGl
— Lincolnshire Police Rural Crime Action Team (RCAT) (@LincsRuralCrime) September 5, 2025
PC Chris Windsor-Beck, from the Lincolnshire Police rural crime action team (RCAT), said: “They were all travelling from the south of the country and were unable to provide any good reason why they were in Lincolnshire at that time of the day with sight hounds used for hunting, catapults and a vehicle used in off-road driving.”
He added: “We had the hard evidence that they were hare coursing, so there was nothing to do but accept guilt.
“Hare coursers are drawn to Lincolnshire because of its flat, open terrain, and often, the activity involves gambling, and there can be a range of other criminal activities, including theft, criminal damage, violence and intimidation – but our team is fighting back with every report. They are not welcome here, or anywhere else in the county.”
Police have summarised the four men’s sentences as follows:
Billy Saunders aged 36, Holwell Lane, Essendon, Hatfield, Noah Stanley, aged 54 and Noah Stanley, aged 26, both of Shire Lane, Chalfont St Peter, Gerrards Cross, Buckinghamshire and Maurice Smith, aged 36, New Fairplace Hill, Burgess Hill, West Sussex were all handed depravation orders for Molly and George the two lurcher dogs, the silver Mercedes car, all hare coursing paraphernalia, a locking knife and mobile phone. They must each pay £3375 compensation for kennel and welfare fees. They each must also pay CPS costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £114.
Maurice Smith was also disqualified from keeping dogs for ten years and must undertake 120 hours of unpaid work. He was given a Criminal Behaviour Order for 10 years.
Billy Saunders, Noah Stanley (54) and Noah Stanley (26) were disqualified from keeping dogs for five years and must each undertake 60 hours of unpaid work. Each man was also given a Criminal Behaviour Order for five years.