TWO teenagers have appeared in court charged with poaching with dogs on land near Ringwood.

The 16-year-old boys, who cannot be named, were caught walking in a line with two men and lurchers on private fields at Bisterne Estate.

The head gamekeeper at the estate challenged the youths and escorted them off the land.

He later discovered that his pheasant pens had been damaged.

One youth admitted both offences, the second youth denied any involvement.

Both youngsters were found guilty at Southampton Magistrates’ Court and given a 12-month conditional discharge, forced to comply with the Youth Offending Team and pay compensation plus court costs.

Poaching on private land and in the New Forest has been a problem for landowners and the Forestry Commission over the years.

Illegal hunters killed one of the country’s biggest and best known stags, The Monarch, who was slaughtered near Burley last year, in a bid to get their hands on his prized 16-point antlers, which were worth about £1,000.