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| 'Lives put at risk' by hare coursing 4x4 convoy in Manea | |
| (17 days later) | |
| A number of vehicles were seen ditched around Manea in the Fens | A number of vehicles were seen ditched around Manea in the Fens |
| Dozens of 4x4s connected to hare coursing put lives at risk and caused thousands of pounds of damage when they drove dangerously through the Fens, police said. | Dozens of 4x4s connected to hare coursing put lives at risk and caused thousands of pounds of damage when they drove dangerously through the Fens, police said. |
| About 25 speeding cars, reportedly driven by men in balaclavas, swept through Manea and surrounding villages in Cambridgeshire on Saturday. | About 25 speeding cars, reportedly driven by men in balaclavas, swept through Manea and surrounding villages in Cambridgeshire on Saturday. |
| Local Conservative MP Steve Barclay said the perpetrators of the "shocking criminality" - which included a shop theft and the wrecking of farmers' crops - must be "robustly tracked down". | Local Conservative MP Steve Barclay said the perpetrators of the "shocking criminality" - which included a shop theft and the wrecking of farmers' crops - must be "robustly tracked down". |
| "They could have killed someone, no two ways about that," said district councillor Charlie Marks, who witnessed the incidents in Manea. | "They could have killed someone, no two ways about that," said district councillor Charlie Marks, who witnessed the incidents in Manea. |
| "There was a total disregard for anyone in the village. | "There was a total disregard for anyone in the village. |
| "It was absolutely shocking. | "It was absolutely shocking. |
| "We have got very upset farmers and residents." | "We have got very upset farmers and residents." |
| Footage posted on social media showed vehicles racing through fields, destroying crops in their wake, with one person commenting she had seen the "lunatics" pull on to a main road at speed. | Footage posted on social media showed vehicles racing through fields, destroying crops in their wake, with one person commenting she had seen the "lunatics" pull on to a main road at speed. |
| At least three damaged, mud-splattered cars were later found abandoned around Manea. | At least three damaged, mud-splattered cars were later found abandoned around Manea. |
| 'Rammed' farmer's car | 'Rammed' farmer's car |
| Farmer Robert Sears said the group had displayed "complete disregard and lawlessness" and he felt his land had been "violated". | Farmer Robert Sears said the group had displayed "complete disregard and lawlessness" and he felt his land had been "violated". |
| "I blocked one of the entrances to the field with my car but they rammed it on the side," he added. | "I blocked one of the entrances to the field with my car but they rammed it on the side," he added. |
| "There must have been at least 25 vehicles and about 60 people in them, charging down the road towards me, coming across the field," he added. | "There must have been at least 25 vehicles and about 60 people in them, charging down the road towards me, coming across the field," he added. |
| "They ripped up hedges and made a mess. | "They ripped up hedges and made a mess. |
| "These were life-threatening incidents. | "These were life-threatening incidents. |
| "If I had my grandchild with me on that road, I really dread to think what would have happened." | "If I had my grandchild with me on that road, I really dread to think what would have happened." |
| Robert Sears said hedges and crops were damaged on his farm | Robert Sears said hedges and crops were damaged on his farm |
| 'Organised criminals' | 'Organised criminals' |
| Barclay, the Conservative MP for North East Cambridgeshire, said a public meeting at the Royal British Legion in Manea on Monday afternoon would give residents the chance to discuss their concerns with police. | Barclay, the Conservative MP for North East Cambridgeshire, said a public meeting at the Royal British Legion in Manea on Monday afternoon would give residents the chance to discuss their concerns with police. |
| "We need to ensure those responsible for these appalling crimes are robustly tracked down and prosecuted, and lessons are learnt from what happened," he said. | "We need to ensure those responsible for these appalling crimes are robustly tracked down and prosecuted, and lessons are learnt from what happened," he said. |
| "It is clear this was organised criminals trying to hide their identity and they will do it again if not found." | "It is clear this was organised criminals trying to hide their identity and they will do it again if not found." |
| Cambridgeshire Police said no arrests had been made and appealed for information, dashcam footage or CCTV. | Cambridgeshire Police said no arrests had been made and appealed for information, dashcam footage or CCTV. |
| "Up to 25 vehicles were seen, some in convoy, in various parts of the county," a spokesperson said. | "Up to 25 vehicles were seen, some in convoy, in various parts of the county," a spokesperson said. |
| "These included Fordham, Ely, Prickwillow, Littleport, Welney, Chatteris, Manea, Wimblington and Doddington. | "These included Fordham, Ely, Prickwillow, Littleport, Welney, Chatteris, Manea, Wimblington and Doddington. |
| "We understand the impact this has had on the community and we are investigating." | "We understand the impact this has had on the community and we are investigating." |
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