Man dumped 50 dead hares at shop, court hears

A man left dozens of dead animals and smeared blood across a village shop in a scene resembling a "horror movie", a court has heard.

James Kempster, 39, of Totton, Hampshire, is on trial charged with two counts of possessing a dead wild bird and one count of criminal damage.

Prosecutors told Southampton Magistrates' Court that Kempster was one of three men involved in the incident in which 50 dead hares were dumped outside Broughton Community Shop in the early hours of 15 March 2024.

Kempster denies the charges.

The prosecution said the defendant also wedged a dead barn owl and kestrel into the shop's door handles.

The court heard the motivation for the incident was not known.

CCTV footage shown to the court captured three men arriving at the shop in a 4x4 at about 03:23 GMT.

Two of the men, wearing hoods and balaclavas, can be seen leaving the vehicle and throwing the hares across the shop's forecourt.

One of the men, who the prosecution claimed was Kempster, then tore a hare "in half" before smearing its blood across the shop front.

The court heard the same man then retrieved two birds from the vehicle and "stuffed" them into the door handles.

The trio were captured on CCTV leaving in the vehicle about three minutes after arriving.

"This is a horror movie scene outside a Broughton village shop," prosecutor Adam Cooper said.

The barrister said DNA found on the birds matched the defendant, who was also linked to the incident through his mobile phone location, clothing and connections to the vehicle that was used.

The court heard the car, a Suzuki Grand Vitara, had been purchased a month before the incident and registered to "Sean Smith", at the same Hampshire County Council-run traveller site where Kempster lives.

Police were unable to identify anyone of that name linked to the vehicle, which was later found burned out in a lane near Mottisfont, the court heard.

William Hacking, a volunteer at the shop, told the court he arrived shortly before 08:00 and discovered the scene.

He said he went home to collect a shovel and bags to clear up the mess, fearing it would distress others.

Hacking also told the court the barn owl, which he removed from the door handle, had "clearly been shot".

The trial continues.

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