A Beaconsfield man is one of five people to have been fined after police were called to reports of illegal night time poaching in a field in Oxfordshire earlier this year.

Lucas Dean, aged 29, of The Ferns, Beaconsfield, was found guilty of one count of night time trespass with the intention of pursuing game contrary to section 1a game act 1828 and was fined £525, along with four other men.

On January 3 at around 11.40pm, officers were called to reports of illegal night time poaching on the Churn Estate in Blewbury, Oxfordshire.

A Landrover Defender was seen by the helicopter near to the reported location, driving around a field off of Bury Lane, West Ilsley, Berkshire.

The vehicle was stopped by police officers and inside were the five men, eight Lurcher-type dogs, battery packing and lamps.

The men were arrested on suspicion of night time trespass with intention to pursue game and charged on February 26.

The men, who had all pleaded guilty, were sentenced at Newbury Magistrates Court on March 31 and fined a combined £3,000.

Briggs, who was driving, received an extra fine in excess of £700 for the return of the vehicle as it had illegal red diesel in it.

The battery packs and lamps they intended to use in the offence were also destroyed.

Investigating officer, PC Lucy Fleming from South and Vale LPA Rural Crime Team, said: "This is a good result. Poaching and rural crime is a priority for the South and Vale area, and indeed the Force, and it is in the public interest to prosecute."

The other men involved were all from Slough - Charlie Haverley, 22 from Monksfield Way, Sheridan Coomer-Christian, 24, of Aylesworth Avenue, Thomas Jacob, aged 26 of Wordsworth Road and 24-year-old Nathan Briggs, of Doddlesfield Road.