Night Poaching Act, 1828

Persons taking or destroying game or rabbits by night, or entering any land for that purpose, for 1st offence, to be committed for three months, and kept to hard labour, and to find sureties;

for 2nd offence, to be committed for six months, and kept to hard labour, and to find sureties;

for 3d offence, to be liable to transportation for seven years, or imprisonment with hard labour for two years.

Punishment in Scotland.

[1.] If any person shall by night, unlawfully take or destroy any game or rabbits in any land, whether open or enclosed, or shall by night unlawfully enter or be in any land, whether open or enclosed, with any gun, net, engine, or other instrument, for the purpose of taking or destroying game, such offender shall, upon conviction thereof before two justices of the peace, be committed for the first offence to the common gaol or house of correction for any period not exceeding three calendar months, there to be kept to hard labour, and at the expiration of such period shall find sureties by recognizance, or in Scotland by bond of caution, himself in ten pounds, and two sureties in five pounds each, or one surety in ten pounds, for his not so offending again for the space of one year next following, and in case of not finding such sureties shall be further imprisoned and kept to hard labour for the space of six calendar months, unless such sureties are sooner found; and in case such person shall so offend a second time, and shall be thereof convicted before two justices of the peace, he shall be committed to the common gaol or house of correction for any period not exceeding six calendar months, there to be kept to hard labour, and at the expiration of such period shall find sureties by recognizance, or bond as aforesaid, himself in twenty pounds, and two sureties in ten pounds each, or one surety in twenty pounds, for his not so offending again for the space of two years next following, and in case of not finding such sureties shall be further imprisoned and kept to hard labour for the space of one year, unless such sureties are sooner found; and in case such person shall so offend a third time he shall be guilty of a misdemeanor, and being convicted thereof shall be liable, at the discretion of the court, to be transported beyond seas for seven years, or to be imprisoned and kept to hard labour in the common gaol or house of correction for any term not exceeding two years; and in Scotland, if any person [shall so offend a first, second, or third time, he shall be liable to be punished in like manner as is hereby provided in each case.