Crime, Poole | Posted on August 10th, 2026 | return to news

Poole man jailed for animal and drugs offences

Billy Banks caused suffering to a rabbit in Broadstone and was also found guilty of supplying Class A drugs.

A man found guilty of causing suffering to a protected animal and for supplying Class A drugs has been jailed.

On Friday 3 October 2025, a video was posted into an open hare coursing group on Facebook by 33-year-old Billy Banks, of Poole.

The video shows the defendant pull a live rabbit out of a bag at Broadstone recreation ground, before setting a young lurcher-type dog on it.

Banks can be seen kicking the rabbit several times to make it run off so that the dog can continue pursuing it.

He was identified from the footage and subsequently arrested by officers in November 2025.

Banks was charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and pleaded guilty at Poole Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 28 May 2026.

Banks appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on Friday 7 August 2026 and was sentenced to six months in prison for the offence.

He was also banned from owning or keeping dogs, rabbits or hares for a period of ten years.

Banks was also sentenced for unrelated charges of being concerned in the supply of class A drugs and acquiring, using or possessing criminal property linked to an investigation by officers in Poole into offences between August and November 2023 and was sentenced to a total of six years and one month in prison.

Police Constable Chandler Organ, of the Rural Crime Team, said: “Banks posted the offence on social media himself, which led to some backlash from the public and allowed officers to take action.

“This type of activity is unacceptable and we will continue to investigate reports of this nature and hold those responsible to account.”