Hunts in the Dock
A
Albrighton Foxhounds
Albrighton Foxhounds Huntsman, Nigel Cox, convicted of firearms offences and given
a 3 year suspended prison sentence after he blew a hole in
the radiator of an occupied sab minibus with a shotgun. He
was also given a conditional discharge for assault (he had
struck a sab with the gun) and criminal damage to a camera.
No damages were paid to sabs.
Albrighton Foxhounds
Gary Whelbrand, an Albrighton Foxhounds supporter,
found guilty of fracturing a saboteur's jaw in two places
and perforating his eardrum, after Whelbrand jumped the sab
from behind, dragging him to the ground in an unprovoked attack.
He was convicted of ABH, and was fined £250 with costs and
£75 compensation.
Atherstone Foxhounds
Atherstone Foxhounds supporter convicted of assault and fined
£200, with £138 costs and £60 compensation.
B
Badsworth Foxhounds
Ian Randell, the son
of the Badsworth Foxhounds huntsman, was convicted of actual
bodily harm to a Sheffield sab.
Bicester and Whaddon Chase Foxhounds
Thomas Smith and Jeffery
Cook, supporters of the Bicester and Whaddon Chase
Foxhounds bound over for
1 year for breach of the peace after an incident which left
the back window of a sab's car completely smashed. The prosecution
dropped charges of criminal damage and section 4.
Bicester and Whaddon Chase Foxhounds
Richard and Thomas Cheshire, both hunt marshals,
found guilty of affray and assault causing actual bodily harm
after they attacked a car containing observers, smashing the
windscreen before overturning the vehicle down an embankment.
Two of the passengers were repeatedly punched and an attempt
was made to drag one man through the broken windscreen. They
were fined a total of £2049, including £100 towards the repair
of a damaged video camera.
Bicester and Whaddon Chase Foxhounds
Richard Cheshire (again), and Bicester and Whaddon
Chase Foxhounds Kennelman, Michael
Smith both sent to prison for 2 months after a
sab was pushed in front of a speeding quad bike. The case
was successful because for the first time, sabs had video
footage of the incident.
Bicester and Whaddon Chase Foxhounds
Eight bloodsports supporters appeared at Bow Street magistrates
on 21/12/04 in connection with a hunting protest inside the
House of Commons. They all pleaded not guilty to disorderly
conduct charges under Section 5 of the Public Order Act. The
men were given unconditional bail to return in January. They
were Otis Ferry (22) of Keeper’s Cottage, Eaton Mascott, Shrewsbury. Ferry is also
the joint master and huntsman of the South Shropshire Foxhounds. Luke Tomlinson (27) of Down Farm, Westonbirt, Gloucestershire, who is a friend
of princes William and Harry. David
Redvers (34) of Corsend Farm, Hartpury, Gloucestershire; Richard Wakeham (36) of Alma Terrace, York; Nicholas
Wood (41) of Bowden Park, Lacock, Wiltshire; John Holiday (37) of Ledbury Kennels, Bromesberrow, Herefordshire. Holiday
is also the huntsman of The Ledbury Foxhounds; Robert
Thame (35) of Piper's Cottage, Paley Street,
Maidenhead, Berkshire, Thame also hunts with the Bicester and Whaddon Chase Hunt; and Andrew
Elliot (42) of Laurel Cottage, Allbright Lane,
Bromesberrow, Herefordshire, Elliot rides with the Ledbury
Foxhounds.
Black Combe Beagles
The Black Combe Beagles have lost a court action over the
care of two of the hunt’s beagles. Borrowdale fellrunner
Billy Bland and his wife Mary successfully argued at Whitehaven
County Court in July 2004 that the Black Combe Beagles, based
at Waberthwaite, Cumbria had failed to respect an agreement
that they could have safe custody of two beagles they had
cared for in the off-season. The Blands from Mountain View,
Borrowdale took the legal action as they said they had been
concerned about the welfare of beagles. The couple looked
after the dogs from March to August when the hounds are not
hunting. But because of their concerns to ensure the hounds’
long term welfare they drew up an agreement with the hunt
for the dogs return to them after their hunting days were
over. In the county court action the case was brought against Stan Ellwood and Bruce Porter,
master and chairman of the Black Combe Beagles. Mary Bland
said after the case: “We act as walkers for the hounds
in the off-season. You get attached to the dogs and we paid
vets bills and feeding. Thanks to the judge we have got one
back, but we were told the other had been ‘put down’
by a kennels in Ireland. But we do not accept that version
and we may use the £200 we were awarded to go over to
Ireland to try and find out more. “ Bruce
Porter, chairman of the Beagles said any comment
should come through their solicitors, but he rejected any
claims that the beagles were not cared for at the Waberthwaite
hunt kennels.
Blackmore Vale Hunt
Four men who assaulted a farmer at the kennels of the Blackmore
Vale Hunt have been remanded on bail for the preparation of
pre-sentence reports. Ryan Carvill (23) of County Down, Ireland; Marc
Beale (28) of Coldharbour, Sherborne; Adam
Knight (24) of Bar Lever Lane, Charlton Horethorne,
and Martin Starks (18) of South Down, Charlton Horethorne, admitted causing
actual bodily harm to Glenn Hodges, who was kicked and punched
at the hunt kennels. All four accepted being part of a joint
enterprise but Taunton Crown Court was told on 4/9/03 that
Beale did not accept kicking and Starks did not remember and
did not accept using either his fists or his feet. The case
was adjourned to a later date.
Bolebroke Beagles
Clive D Wenham, Joint Master of the Bolebroke Beagles
convicted of assault and abusive behaviour on a 63 year old
woman, when she encountered the beagles on a road. Wenham
coshed the woman over the head with his whip, knocking her
to the ground. He was fined £1000 for the assault and £600
for the abusive behaviour.
Braes of Derwent Hunt
A drunken kennel worker who swore and shouted at police officers
during a demonstration outside of the Houses of Parliament
escaped a penalty o 6/1/03 after he apologised in court. David
Sherwood (46) from Whittonstall, Northumberland,
who is the kennel man with the Braes of Derwent Hunt was conditionally
discharged without penalty after Bow Street magistrates heard
he was "verbally hostile and aggressive" during
a demonstration. The prosecution claimed Sherwood approached
officers at a cordon erected to control the demonstration.
"He was clearly under the influence of alcohol,"
she said. "He grew verbally hostile and aggressive to
the officers. He continued to behave in a disturbing manner…
he was eventually arrested after being warned." He was
charged with being drunk and disorderly. Sherwood pleaded
guilty. Magistrates imposed no penalty and conditionally discharged
him for 12 months.
Bramham Moor Foxhounds
Bramham Moor Foxhounds supporter Raymond
Walker attacked saboteurs with a scythe!, Leaving
two with head wounds, and a van's windows smashed. He was
convicted of affray along with two other hunt supporters Mr & Mrs Winstanley, and criminal damage. All
three were given community service orders.
Buccleuch Foxhounds
A huntsman from the Buccleuch Foxhounds was cleared of deliberately
using a pack of hounds to hunt foxes in breach of anti-hunting
legislation. Trevor Adams (46) from Melrose denied the charge and claimed the hounds
were used to "flush" out foxes so they could be
shot. The sheriff at Jedburgh on 10/12/04 ruled that the dogs
were not out of control at any time. At an earlier hearing,
the sheriff was told that a tenant farmer had refused Adams'
Fox Control Service entry to his land at Courthill.
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Cambridgeshire Foxhounds
On the 3rd of April 1993, Tom Worby was crushed under the
wheels of the Cambridgeshire Foxhounds hound van. No action
was taken against the driver of the hound van huntsman Alan
Ball.
Cattistock Foxhounds
Paul Martin attacked a sab repeatedly at a joint
meet of the South Dorset Foxhounds and the Cattistock Foxhounds.
He pleaded guilty to ABH and was only given a conditional
discharge, as no medical evidence was given.
Cattistock Hunt
Three men who threatened members of the South Dorset Anti-Blood
Sports group at a hunt meeting in Somerset were sentenced
by Yeovil magistrates. Bernard Martin (59) of Haselbury Plucknett, his son Paul
Martin (33) of Dinnington, and Gordon
Martin (51) of Haselbury Plucknett pleaded guilty
to using threatening behaviour towards hunt protesters at
a meet of the Cattistock Hunt. The court ordered Paul
Martin to serve 80 hours community service
and pay compensation of £50. Bernard
Martin was fined £70 and Gordon Martin was
given a six-month conditional discharge.
Cheshire Beagles
Alan Summersgill (see full
story)
Cheshire Foxhounds / Cheshire Forest
Hunt
Anthony Kirkham, supporter of the Cheshire Foxhounds,
received a 12 month prison sentence (suspended on appeal)
for attacking a lone female sab who had gone to get help after
the sab van had been attacked by hunt heavies. When Kirkham
caught up with her, he beat and kicked her to the ground.
Cheshire Foxhounds / Cheshire Forest
Hunt
Anthony Kirkham a Cheshire Foxhounds supporter
was jailed for his part in what the judge described as the
'cruel beating' of a L.A.C.S. monitor. The man was chased
across a field, sprayed in the face with a liquid, hit over
the head with a bottle and repeatedly kicked in the head when
he fell. Kirkham told the man, 'we've got you now, you're
dead' as he pulled him to his feet and ripped a camera worth
£1,300 from his neck. Kirkham was jailed for 15 months.
Cheshire Foxhounds / Cheshire Forest
Hunt
A father and son were charged with assaulting two police officers
outside Nantwich Civic Hall in January 2003. Anthony
Kirkham (58) and his son Timothy (20) both of Ridley Farm, Tarporley, both are keen supporters
of the Cheshire Foxhounds and Cheshire Forest Hunt were arrested
outside the civic hall, which was staging The Cheshire Foxhounds
Farmers Hunt Ball. Both men were charged with actual bodily
harm, resisting or obstructing a constable in the execution
of duty, with Tony Kirkham also charged with threatening behaviour and his son with obstructing
a person assisting a constable in the execution of duty. They
both appeared at Crewe magistrates in August 2003 and both
were found guilty of resisting a police officer and sentenced
to 200 hours community service. They were both also found
guilty of assault and sentenced to 200 hours community service
to run consecutively. They were ordered to pay £300
costs and £50 compensation.
Cheshire Foxhounds
David Woolley, Joint Master of the Cheshire Foxhounds,
cautioned after making a 2am phone call to the NW regional
rep. of the L.A.C.S. He was said to have threatened 'I'm going
to kill you, bitch!'
Cheshire Foxhounds
Elaine Boddington (36) of Stonehouse Lane, Peckforton,
Cheshire (who is the spokesperson of the Cheshire Foxhounds)
was found guilty of driving without due care and attention
at Chester magistrates on 11/9/97. Boddington, who works for
a public relations company called Written Image denied the
offence. However, magistrates heard how a former traffic policeman
was waiting to pick up his wife in the middle of Chester when
he saw Boddington return to her car, which was parked between
a Rover and a Maestro. The car only had a four feet space
behind it. He then watched as she reversed sharply knocking
into the bumper of the Maestro, pushing it down the road for
about two feet, she then drove straight off. When interviewed
by the police she repeated several times she had not had an
accident. Boddington also added "This may be a malicious allegation
because of my high profile activities with the Cheshire Hunt.
My vehicle registration is very well known". Magistrates fined
her £200 with £200 costs and awarded her five penalty points.
The court also heard she already had six points on her licence.
Cheshire Foxhounds
John Charles Kneale (58) of Westminster Drive,
Bromborough, Wirral (terrier man for the Cheshire Foxhounds)
and Peter Edge (28) of
Hilbre Bank, Alpraham, Tarporley, Cheshire both walked free
from Northwich magistrates on 31/10/97 after magistrates decided
there was no case to answer over allegations of badger digging.
Both were charged with disturbing a badger sett and causing
a dog to enter a badger sett after the Cheshire Foxhounds
had passed over the land earlier the same day. The farmer
who owned the land said "I was approached by Kneale, he said
a fox had run to ground during the hunt and would it be all
right to dig it out. I gave him permission. I didn't know
they were going near where the badger sett." They were then
seen digging at the sett by forest workers, who then rang
a badger protection group to report them.
Cheshire Foxhounds
A Master of the Cheshire Hunt, Thomas
Randle Cooke of Pigeon House Farm, Handley,
admitted two counts of moving cattle without the relevant
passports, failing to keep a register showing the movements
of a beast and re-tagging cattle without notifying the relevant
government department. Cooke was fined £2,500 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs
by Chester magistrates on 9/7/04. The matters relating to Cooke came to
light as a result of investigations into cattle dealer Robin
Arden from Tarporley which resulted in Arden receiving a £10,000
fine, with £2,500 costs, after appearing before Northwich
magistrates on 18 charges.
Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray
Foxhounds
Duncan Branch, a subscriber
to the Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray Foxhounds found
guilty of attacking 2 saboteurs with his fists and a riding
crop. Fined £400 with £250 costs and was ordered to pay £50
compensation to each of his victims.
Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray
Foxhounds
Justin Ellis, Matthew Jones and Charles Peach,
all supporters of the Chiddingfold, Leconfield And Cowdray
Foxhounds, found guilty of affray after Ellis rammed the back
of a sab landrover, and Jones And Peach attacked it, breaking
several windows. Ellis was fined £400 and banned from driving,
while the others were each fined £250.
Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray
Foxhounds
Stephen Thayne, Whipper-In to the Chiddingfold,
Leconfield and Cowdray Foxhounds, convicted of assault and
battery after riding down a group of saboteurs. Given one
years conditional discharge and ordered to pay £170 costs.
Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray
Foxhounds
Huntsman Jonathan Broise (45) of Petworth, West Sussex, has been barred from becoming
master of the Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray Hunt after
being convicted of butting a disabled magistrate and punching
another man at a point-to-point meeting. Horsham magistrates
were told on 18/2/01 that Broise attacked Michael Halford,
a company manager, in a hospitality tent and turned on Philip
Everest, who walks with crutches, when the magistrate tried
to intervene.
Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray
Foxhounds
Jonathan Broise (46) of London Road, Petworth was accused of riding his horse
at a hunt saboteur and breaking her shoulder has been cleared.
Broise who is the huntsman with the Chiddingfold, Leconfield
and Cowdray Hunt, denied a charge of actual bodily harm. On
27/10/04 the defence successfully argued there was no case
to answer and the jury at Hove Crown Court was ordered to
return a not guilty verdict. It had been claimed that Broise
had pushed a 60-year-old hunt saboteur, out of the way at
a meet in September 2003. Broise was arrested on the 27/9/03
but in connection to another alleged assault on a protester.
Broise "resigned" as huntsman of The Chiddingfold,
Leconfield and Cowdray Foxhounds a week later.
Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray
Foxhounds
Jonathan Broise (46) of London Road, Petworth was found not guilty on 16/7/03
of causing actual bodily harm to two hunt saboteurs. Video
footage had been shown in court of the him punching one sab
and fighting with the other. However, Boise who is the huntsman
with the Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray Hunt maintained
he had been acting in self-defence.
Cotswold Vale Farmers Foxhounds
A Master of the Cotswold Vale Farmers Foxhounds cautioned
by police after an indecent assault was made on a young female
saboteur.
Cottesmore Foxhounds
Neil Coleman, first whip and kennel hand of the
Cottesmore Foxhounds, fined £300 and £10 cost after knocking
an old lady off her bike, breaking bones and failing to stop,
whilst driving the hunt fleshwagon back from an evening down
the pub.
Cottesmore Foxhounds
A hunt master's wife who unfairly sacked her gardener of 15
years has been ordered to pay him £3,420 by an employment
tribunal. Adrian Clarke (47) was dismissed by Fiona
Smith-Bingham from The Whalebones, Knossington
after he picked up an arm injury and was unable to fulfil
his gardener and handyman duties. The tribunal, in Leicester
on 8/4/04, heard her husband Kim, Master of the Cottesmore
Hunt, dismissed Clarke before the couple had seen a doctor's
report confirming their former gardener's condition.
Cottesmore Foxhounds
Four joint hunt masters and two workers were suspended on
28/6/03. It follows allegations that a vixen and two cubs
were moved from an earth in breach of hunting rules. An investigation
has been launched into allegations of misconduct at the Cottesmore
Hunt after pictures were taken by The International Fund for
Animal Welfare (IFAW). They said its investigators filmed
a member of the hunt placing two cubs in an artificial earth
in Leicestershire. The artificial earth to which they had
been moved was in a field of sheep and lambs and on a path
used by hunts. They also said that by moving the foxes, staff
were demonstrating that far from trying to keep numbers down,
they were trying to encourage foxes to breed in order to have
sufficient numbers to hunt. The ones who were suspended are Dean Jones,
terrierman for the hunt, Jones admitted that he had moved the foxes and was suspended, as
was his boss, Neil Coleman .
The four suspended joint masters are David
Manning, a businessman, Charles
Gordon-Watson, a bloodstock agent, and Nicholas
Wright and Roger
Dungworth, both farmers. A formal hearing
is to take place on 2/7/03.
On 2/7/03 Dean Jones the terrier man employed by the Cottesmore Hunt had his licence withdrawn after he was filmed moving fox cubs. The Master of The Foxhounds Association (MFHA) disciplinary committee launched an inquiry and suspended four masters of the Cottesmore Hunt, a huntsman and their terrierman Jones. Jones, who admitted the offence, told the disciplinary committee that it was done in a 'moment of compassion'. Neil Coleman, the huntsman, admitted Jones had told him of the matter later but he did not disclose this information to his employers. The MFHA committee found the Joint Masters not guilty of misconduct under Rule 49, not guilty of any other rules and lifted their suspension. They withdrew the terrier man's licence with the recommendation he should not be granted another licence for three years. Alastair Jackson, director of MFHA said: "The committee was impressed with the Cottesmore Masters' methods, execution of staff training, records and protocol and was wholly satisfied at no time had the masters acted negligently or deliberately against MFHA rules." The Masters of Cottesmore Hunt have started their own disciplinary proceedings against Mr Jones and Mr Coleman. On Thursday they announced Neil Coleman, the huntsman, had been reinstated. Discussions are being held about the future of Jones, who is still employed by the hunt staff, but because of the ban can no longer be employed by them as a terrier man.
Crawley and Horsham Foxhounds
Adrian Thompson was found not guilty of being involved
in an attack on Dorset HSA's van while they were attending
a meet of the Crawley and Horsham Foxhounds. Two sabs had
been subjected to a furious assault and the van had been pushed
into a ditch and its windows smashed. During the trial Thompson
seemed to lay the blame firmly on a mysterious acquaintance
'Wayne' who has never been traced.
Crawley and Horsham Hunt
Joint Masters of Crawley and Horsham Hunt, Anthony
Sandeman (41) of Coombe Lane, Bolney, West Sussex
and Philip Ghazala (40)
of Shipley Road, Southwater, near Horsham intend to appeal
against a court's decision finding them guilty of damaging
a hunt protester's vehicle. Ghazala and Sandeman denied a
charge of criminal damage to protesters car when they appeared
at Mid Sussex Magistrates Court on 28/9/98. The incident happened
after the protester and his partner monitor a hunt. The Crawley
and Horsham Hunt had been cancelled and they travelled to
the Petworth Hunt instead
in another vehicle. When they returned later they noticed
two males down the side of their vehicle. "One was standing
up and looked as though he was writing on the side. The other
one was behind him. When they were spotted they "hurried away
very, very quickly" He said there was scratching along the
near-side panel of his car and the paint was still blistering
and flaking and the nearside tyre had been let down. Taped
interviews with Ghazala and Sandeman were played to the court.
Ghazala, managing director of Horse
Health Products UK, said he and Sandeman had driven
to Kent on that day for a hound parade, because the Crawley
and Horsham Hunt had been held a day earlier. Sandeman had
received information that there were "saboteurs" gathering
in the area. Ghazala said he drove down the lane on his way
back from Kent at approximately 4 to 4.30pm, where he let
Sandeman out to "relieve himself" and to note down the registration
numbers of any cars parked along the road. He stated that
he never left the vehicle. Sandeman a farmer, said that they
recognised the approaching car and so they drove off. The
prosecution asked both men: "You were caught red-handed and
that is why you are here today, is it not?" The reply of both
men was: "No." Magistrates fined Sandeman £300 with £250 costs
and had to pay £58 compensation. Ghazala was also fined £300
with £250 with compensation.
Crawley and Horsham Hunt
Jamie Hawksfield, West Sussex
County Chairman of the Countryside Alliance was arrested on 13/4/04 and taken to Crawley Police Station.
Here he was shown video of him threatening and assaulting
an anti-hunt protester. The incident occurred at a meeting
of the Crawley and Horsham Hunt . He admitted the offence
and was given a formal police caution as he is a first time
offender.
Cumberland Farmers Foxhound
On 9/8/96 Penrith magistrates found Edwin
Russell Dickinson (38) of Town Head Road, Cotehill,
Carlisle, who is the terrierman for the Cumberland Farmers
Foxhound guilty of interfering with a badger sett by causing
a dog to enter it, and Peter James
McColgan (30) of The Kennels, Welton, Dalston,
who is the amateur huntsman for the Cumberland Farmers Foxhounds
guilty of aiding and abetting Dickinson in interfering with
a badger sett by causing a dog to enter the sett. The magistrates
heard that the Cumberland Farmers were out hunting near Penrith
when McColgan found that a fox had gone down a hole, he then
called over Dickinson. The holes were then blocked and some
nets were put over other entrances, a terrier was then entered
the holes. Both men admitted in interviews that they had put
a terrier down but said the contentious issue was whether
they were signs of the sett being an active one. After a trial
lasting nearly three days the magistrates found the pair guilty
and they were fined £150 each with £250 costs.
Cumberland Foxhounds
A supporter of the Cumberland Foxhounds attacked a photographer
with a spade handle, after the photographer took the balaclava-wearing
thug's picture. He was fined £200 for assault.
D
Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire
and Staffordshire Beagles
Marcus Wright (28) of 7 Fernie Avenue, Melton, who is the kennel huntsman
of The Derbyshire, Nottinghamshire and Staffordshire Beagles
was arrested and charged with assaulting a police officer
during a demonstration outside Westminster. His charge was
later reduced to obstructing a police officer and he was fined
£50 with £55 costs at Bow Street magistrates on
13/1/03.
Derwent Foxhounds
A hunt supporter from North Yorkshire was cleared of driving
his car into a puddle to drench two animal rights campaigners
and a child with icy water as they protested at a New Years
day meet of the Derwent Foxhounds. Colin
Pickering (63) of Prospect Place, Thornton-le-Dale,
denied driving without reasonable consideration to others
when he appeared at Pickering magistrates on 13/8/04.
Devon and Somerset Staghounds
Joanna Mary Scott (28) of Higher Cooksley, Upton,
near Wiveliscombe, Somerset, daughter of Diana and Maurice
Scott who are the joint masters of the Devon and Somerset
Staghounds, was found not guilty by Minehead magistrates on
8/11/96 of chasing a stag with a Land Rover to stop it entering
a sanctuary. Scott had denied the offence. She told the court
she was following the deer to see where it went, and to prevent
trespass by hounds onto sanctuary land.
Duke of Beaufort Hunt
The joint master of the Duke of Beaufort Captain
Ian Farquhar (53) appeared at Avon magistrates
on 20/10/98. He pleaded guilty to allowing Cypermethin, which
is used to treat mange in the hounds at the Beaufort kennels
to enter the river Avon. The pesticide killed around 10,000
endangered white clawed crayfish in the river.
Dunston Harriers
Supporter of the Dunston Harriers, Patrick
Everett managed to get the hunt banned from one
village after he viciously attacked a party of 1 man, 2 women
and four children who had stopped to watch the hunt pass by.
He was fined £800.
Dunston Harriers
On 15/3/03 a company director who claimed to be a victim of
a "regime of terror" has been jailed for 15 months
after he lied during the trial of a major drugs dealer at
the centre of a crime empire. Stewart
Sayer (45) of Crows Hall Lane, Attleborough
who was field master for the Dunston Harriers, said he was
a under constant threat two years ago when he gave evidence
at the trial of Richard Carter. Carter, along with his brother
Stephen, ran a large-scale drug dealing operation and smuggled
a steady supply of cannabis and heroin to inmates at Norwich
prison. During the trial, Sayer lied in court to help Richard
Carter hide his "ill-gotten" gains from his drug
dealing empire. He said he bought a scrapyard in Wymondham
for £75,000 through an offshore company when in fact
Carter had provided the cash. Sayer admitted perjury.
E
East Devon Hunt
A huntsman was cleared of assaulting a hunt saboteur who grabbed
a fox to protect it from hounds. John
Hazeltine (32) of the East Devon Hunt was acquitted
at Exeter magistrates court on 20/11/01 of attacking a hunt
saboteur during a meeting of the hunt at Crammer Barton, near
Cullompton. The saboteur told the court that he saw the fox
being "bitten and mauled" by some of the pack so grabbed it
by the scruff of the neck and lifted it up. "The fox immediately
bit me on the hand, through my thumb," he said, adding that
he then crouched in the hedge and tried to cover the animal
with his body. He then felt blows on the back of his head,
and was bitten on the hand by some of the pack. He then claimed
that Hazeltine had stamped him, and punched him in the back
of the head, and the fox escaped from his grasp.
Enfield Chase Foxhounds
Supporter of the Enfield Chase Foxhounds, George
Adair convicted of criminal damage to a sab vehicle
and ordered to pay a £100 fine and £60 costs. On a charge
of assault on sabs the jury were unable to come to a unanimous
decision so the judge decided for them, finding Adair not
guilty despite the evidence of six sab witnesses, a detective
constable, a sergeant, an inspector and a superintendent regarding
his alleged violent behaviour.
Essex and Farmers Union Terrierman
Roger Wakefield, Essex and Farmers Union Terrierman,
given 160 hours community service after being found guilty
of violent disorder and affray against saboteurs. Hunt supporter, Bryn Chittenden was also
convicted of the same offences and given 120 hours community
service.
Essex Farmers and Union Hunt
Anne Hull (40) of Maldon Road, Burnham was found
guilty in of aiding and abetting interference with a badger
sett. But Chelmsford Crown Court overturned the conviction
at an appeal hearing on 2/11/01 after ruling there was no
direct evidence linking Hull with the blocking of a badger
sett. The court heard how Hull was a joint master of The Essex
Farmers and Union Hunt when
the six-hole badger sett was partially blocked by earth-stopper
and terrierman Bryn Chittenden .
Essex Foxhounds
The chairman of the Essex Foxhounds and two of his hired stewards
paid a total of £1053 in damages to three L.A.C.S. officials,
after the stewards had forcibly removed them from land. The
L.A.C.S. people were pushed around and threatened by the hired
thugs.
Exmoor Foxhounds
At West Somerset magistrates on 12/5/00 Anthony
Richard Wright, a huntsman of Exmoor Foxhounds
pleaded guilty to an offence under the Specified Risk Material
Order 1997 of feeding to hounds parts of a bovine carcase
which contained SRM. Wright, who has been cautioned for a
similar offence in September 1997, was fined £500 and ordered
to pay £567 costs.
F
Fitzwilliam Hunt
Two hunt employees accused of interfering with badger setts
by the RSPCA have had the case against them dismissed. Gary
Edwards who lives on the Milton Estate, near Bretton,
Peterborough and Cyril Smith Oakham, near Stamford both work as terriermen for the Fitzwilliam
Hunt, had been accused of illegally blocking the holes or
damaging a sett. But on 29/10/01 they were acquitted at Peterborough
magistrates after the RSPCA said it did not have enough evidence
to carry on. George Bowyer, joint-master of the Fitzwilliam
Hunt, which is based at Milton Hall, near Bretton, Peterborough,
said the RSPCA had never had a case against the men and condemned
its decision to bring charges. My men have always been innocent
but their names have been blackened.
Four Burrows Hunt
A hunt supporter was jailed on 23/4/04 for four and a half
years for sexually assaulting three girls. David
Stephens (44) a horse breeder and dealer who
rides with the Four Burrows Hunt in Cornwall was banned from
working with children under 18 when he appeared before Truro
Crown Court. He was also ordered to register as a sex offender.
Stephens of Kenwyn was found guilty of three charges of indecent
assault and admitted perverting the course of justice by asking
two friends to give him a false alibi.
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Green Creek Hounds
On 14/10/98 Tot Goodwin, Joint Master and Master
of Foxhounds and huntsman for the Green Creek Hounds (N.C.), and Chip
Anderson, huntsman for the Tryon Hounds (N.C.),
pleaded guilty to illegally transporting foxes across state
lines. Goodwin and Anderson bought 22 red foxes in South Carolina
from federal undercover agents. It was reported that the two
huntsmen were seeking to ensure good hunting at the week-long
multiple-hunt joint meet. Their purchase was a misdemeanor
violation of the Lacey Act, which prohibits interstate transportation
of illegally taken or possessed wildlife. The law's purpose
is to prevent the spread of such diseases as rabies, distemper
and parasites. On 12/3/99 the American Masters of Foxhounds
Association fined both hunts $1,000, placed each hunt on suspension
for six months, and reduced them from recognised to registered
status pending re-inspection by the MFHA. Goodwin and Anderson
were each fined $700 and given two years probation. Charges
are still pending against a third huntsman who allegedly bought
10 foxes. The MFHA's executive director, said that his investigation
showed the huntsmen were trying to repopulate an area that
had been depleted by disease. "The MFHA found no indications
that any of the huntsmen were 'dropping' foxes," he said.
"Since this investigation, the MFHA has found out that foxes
cannot be released into the wild in most states, no matter
how they are obtained. There are no provision to restock healthy
foxes into diseased areas or in catastrophic situations where
populations have been diminished."
H
Hampshire Hunt
Mark Evans, whipper-in to the Hampshire Hunt, loses
a private prosecution brought by a saboteur he had beaten
with his whip. Found guilty of assault.
Hampshire Hunt
Francis Momber, the former
Master of the Hampshire Hunt, given a conditional discharge
and ordered to pay £175 compensation for smashing the windows
on three sides of a saboteur's vehicle. Flying glass cut the
drivers hand and another occupant's mouth.
Heythrop Foxhounds
Denis Lough-Scott, a Heythrop Foxhounds supporter
fined £50 for actual bodily harm on a hunt protester.
High Peak Harriers
A Derbyshire police spokeswoman said that a 63-year-old hunt
supporter was arrested and cautioned for a public order offence
after he verbally abused a hunt saboteur in the presence of
a police officer. The offence followed a meet of The High
Peak Hunt at King Sterndale, Derbyshire on 11/12/04. A police
spokeswoman also said: "A victim reported threats of
physical violence and, while an officer was taking a report
from the victim, the alleged offender appeared and continued
the verbal abuse." "The man, from the Hartington
area, was warned by the officer to behave but continued with
the abuse."
Holderness Foxhounds
Holderness Foxhounds Huntsman, William Deakin, convicted of criminal damage to
a sab van and given a conditional discharge.
Holderness Hunt
Farmhand Glen Norman (27)
of Beverley, East Yorkshire was jailed for two-and-a-half
years for wounding by Hull Crown court on 5/1/98. The court
heard how he had punched Michael Wingfield
Boyce (55) of Long Lane, Beverley, huntsman with
the Holderness Hunt, while Boyce was on the ground Norman
kicked him in the head, breaking his nose, cheekbone and blacking
both eyes. The trouble erupted after Boyce's lover Libby
Merryless (37) and Norman's wife Alison were seen
fighting like wildcats on a stable floor. The court heard
how Boyce had seduced Alison when she was 17 and began a 10-year
affair with her. They both launched an equestrian business
but fell out when she found him kissing her best friend Merryless. Alison Norman (28) of Wood
End Farm, Rise near Long Riston was given 150 community service
after admitting assault.
Hursley Hambledon Foxhounds
Kenneth Mansbridge, a supporter of the Hursley
Hambledon Foxhounds, convicted of unlawful wounding on a green
party researcher, who needed hospital treatment for serious
head wounds after being kicked and beaten by a group of hunt
followers 1991. Mansbridge admitted kicking the victim in
the groin and punching him to the ground. (on the same day,
another protester was beaten around the head with a spade,
and left needing 10 stitches and a 6 and a half months pregnant
woman was hit on the head with half a brick, needing 4 stitches).
Mansbridge was sentenced to 140 hours community service and
ordered to pay costs of £150.
I
Isle of Wight Foxhounds
Two bloodsports supporters who dumped animal carcasses (see
below) in the street during the Labour Party conference pleaded
guilty at Brighton magistrates on 20/10/04 to breaching the
Public Order Act. Stuart Trousdale (33) from Gatcombe is the huntsman of the Isle of Wight Foxhounds
and James Butcher (39) of Ashley Road in Ryde, horrified local residents by
unloading two dead calves and a cow from a pick up truck near
the conference venue in Brighton. They pleaded guilty to breaching
the Public Order Act through threatening and disorderly behaviour.
Their defence claimed they are not hooray Henrys, out to make
a point. They are hard-working members of their community.
"They are countrymen who feel that, as they see it, their
way of life is under threat. This is a crime of passion."
Both regretted any upset they had caused. Trousdale,
who earns £10,000 a year, was fined £80 and ordered
to pay costs of £70. Butcher was fined £167 and ordered to pay £70
costs.
Isle of Wight Foxhounds
A fox hunt has had a noise abatement order imposed on it and
the Master of Hounds has been told to stop his pack from baying
to prevent a public nuisance. In what is believed to be the
first action of its kind, The Isle of Wight Foxhounds was
served with the order after complaints from people living
close to its kennels. Joint Master Richard
Standing said on 8/1/03 that he would appeal
against the order, which has been suspended until the matter
is decided by magistrates later in January 2003. The complaints
have come not from people opposed to fox hunting, but from
hunt supporters who say that they cannot put up with the noise
of barking hounds any longer. Anita Fitzgerald (42) one of
those to complain, is a hunt supporter who has sung at the
Isle of Wight Hunt Ball. She said: "This is nothing to
do with the argument about hunting. It is about the most basic
human right of being able to sleep." She moved to a house
close to the kennel at Gatcombe three years ago. "The
noise has made my life a living hell," she said. Fitzgerald
said she had complained to the council only after discussions
with the hunt had proved fruitless. "I tried everything
to get things done amicably but now I have had to get the
council involved. The constant noise of the dogs was driving
me bonkers. "Together with another neighbour we complained
to the council. It has investigated and seen fit to serve
the notice. "We have been asked to give evidence and
we most certainly will."
J
K
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Ledbury Foxhounds
Eight bloodsports supporters appeared at Bow Street magistrates
on 21/12/04 in connection with a hunting protest inside the
House of Commons. They all pleaded not guilty to disorderly
conduct charges under Section 5 of the Public Order Act. The
men were given unconditional bail to return in January. They
were Otis Ferry (22) of Keeper’s Cottage, Eaton Mascott, Shrewsbury. Ferry is also
the joint master and huntsman of the South Shropshire Foxhounds. Luke Tomlinson (27) of Down Farm, Westonbirt, Gloucestershire, who is a friend
of princes William and Harry. David
Redvers (34) of Corsend Farm, Hartpury, Gloucestershire; Richard Wakeham (36) of Alma Terrace, York; Nicholas
Wood (41) of Bowden Park, Lacock, Wiltshire; John Holiday (37) of Ledbury Kennels, Bromesberrow, Herefordshire. Holiday
is also the huntsman of The Ledbury Foxhounds; Robert
Thame (35) of Piper's Cottage, Paley Street,
Maidenhead, Berkshire, Thame also hunts with the Bicester and Whaddon Chase Hunt; and Andrew
Elliot (42) of Laurel Cottage, Allbright Lane,
Bromesberrow, Herefordshire, Elliot rides with the Ledbury
Foxhounds.
Linlithgow and Stirlingshire Foxhounds
Andrew Smith, a senior civil servant with the Dept.
Of Agriculture, his daughter Lorna and son Derek,
all members of the Linlithgow and Stirlingshire Foxhounds
along with Andrew Crowe and Malcolm Dick, were
all convicted of charges of breach of the peace and assault.
Each of the five was fined £400. They also had a failed appeal.
Linlithgow and Stirlingshire Foxhounds
Roger Howarth, a whipper-in for the Linlithgow
and Stirlingshire Foxhounds found guilty of damaging a cb
radio belonging to Edinburgh sabs. He was ordered to pay the
group the princely sum of £10 for a new one.
M
Mendip Farmers Foxhounds
John Edward Wedmore, terrierman for the Mendip
Farmers Foxhounds found guilty of 3 counts of assault after
he launched an attack on three L.A.C.S. monitors (unbelievably,
a L.A.C.S. monitor's tabard was shown to the court to prove
that the monitors could not have been mistaken for hunt saboteurs
- implying that Wedmore might have had justification for attacking
sabs!)
Mendip Farmers Foxhounds
A hunt protester was hit on the head from behind by a hunt
supporter as he conducted a peaceful protest. The incident
happened on New Year's Day as supporters of Mendip Farmers'
Hunt passed through a village. Police arrested a man in connection
with the incident and he was dealt with by a formal caution.
The protester stated "I asked the huntsmen to stop mutilating
our wildlife. I shouted at them to leave our wildlife alone
and stop stalking them for fun. I could see them coming over
the fields and noticed two people standing around with the
hunt following, coming down the road. One of them took exception
to me. He took a swing at me and his wife stopped him. He
then came up behind me and laid into my head. I suffered large
lumps on the side of my head - he was using a metal-tipped
staff." A 67-year-old man was arrested and has been given
a formal caution by Shepton Mallet police officers on 16/1/04.
Morpeth Hunt
On 4/2/98 a fox hunt was cleared over allegations that it
damaged a protected badger sett during an incident in which
a pack of hounds swarmed through a country park. Police have
decided to take no action against the Morpeth Hunt following
an investigation into the incident. Police launched an investigation
into allegations that a badger sett was damaged during the
incident in which the huntsmen had to remove the hounds from
the country park, where hunting is banned. Northumberland
County Council launched its own probe after claims the hounds
chased foxes through the park three times in two hours. Hunting
is not permitted in the park but there is an agreement that
huntsmen can go in and remove hounds if they run into the
area while chasing foxes. The agreement states that the hunt
should retrieve their hounds as quickly as possible without
disturbance to visitors or wildlife.
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Nantcol Valley Foxhounds
Alan Owen (48) of Glandwr Gwynfryn, Llanbedr, Gwynedd
has lost his appeal for the revocation of his firearms licence.
Owen, who is the Master/Huntsman of the Nantcol Valley Foxhounds,
first appeared in court in March 1996 after he was accused
of punching, kicking and threatening a farming neighbour.
The court was told how Owen had threatened his neighbour with
a knife after he had shot and wounded a hound which was trespassing
in a field of sheep. At the time he admitted common assault,
but denied the knife threat. The court ordered that his firearms
certificate be taken away. In September 1996 he appeared at
Caernarfon Crown Court to appeal against the revocation of
his firearms certificate. The court heard he possessed a shotgun,
but not used it since he was twelve, two rifles and a handgun.
The local police opposed the appeal on the grounds that he
was, in their opinion 'not a fit person to possess firearms'.
(In November 1993 Owen was convicted of unnecessary suffering
to his pet lurcher by Blaenau Ffestiniog magistrates, he was
fined £450 and had to pay costs of £2,227, he was also banned
from keeping dogs for a year).
New Forest Buckhounds
William Howells, forestry commission worker and
supporter of the New Forest Buckhounds found guilty of smashing
a video camera belonging to The New Forest Animal Protection
Group. Ordered to pay £443 compensation and given a 12 month
conditional discharge.
New Forest Buckhounds
John Stride, a rider with the New Forest Buckhounds,
found guilty of assault on a saboteur (with his whip). Also
convicted on a related charge of criminal damage. Fined £25
for the assault with a further £25 for damaging a map.
New Forest Terrierman
New Forest Terrierman, Keith Colbert and hunt supporter Adrian
Bungay, both given conditional discharges after
a hunt saboteur was attacked during a meet of the hunt. At
the time of writing Colbert is wanted by police for an alleged
racial attack on a mixed-race hunt monitor.
New Forest Foxhounds
Keith Nobbs, New Forest Foxhounds Terrierman and Nick Stevens (again!),
South Dorset Foxhounds Kennelman, both fined £200 for criminal
damage to a sab vehicle. The car, with sabs inside it, had
been overturned at a meet of the South Dorset Foxhounds.
New Forest Foxhounds
Amateur Whip of the New Forest Foxhounds, John Mitchell found guilty of careless driving
after sandwiching a Southampton saboteur between a van and
a landrover, running over the sab's foot and hitting him with
the wing mirror. A police officer witnessed the incident.
Fined £180 and £150 costs and 7 penalty points on his licence.
New Forest Foxhounds
New Forest Foxhounds kennel huntsman Paul
Woodhouse (46) of Romsey Road, Lyndhurst, Hampshire
was described in court as Mr Cool lost his temper and struck
a League Against Cruel Sports member with his whip. Lyndhurst
magistrates heard on 23/4/97 how Woodhouse did not have a
blemish on his character and had endured numerous provocative
incidents over the years. However, when he was out with the
hunt the court heard how he rode his horse at the LACS member
and struck him twice across the head with a whip resulting
in him ending up on the floor. At the time the LACS member
was filming a fox being dug out after it had gone to ground.
Woodhouse was said to be in pain after falling from his horse
earlier on in the day was described as a very cool character,
however, he could only remember striking only one blow. Woodhouse
admitted common assault and was fined £75 and ordered to pay
costs of £35 and £40 compensation.
New Forest Foxhounds
On 26/3/01 the huntsman of the New Forest Foxhounds was sent
to prison for 8 weeks after being found guilty of assault
following a trial at Lyndhurst magistrates. The case related
to attack on a passing motorist in which Paul
Woodhouse, huntsman with the New Forest Foxhounds
since 1998, punched a motorist in the face during an incident
at the hunt kennels. Giving evidence in court the Master of
the New Forest Foxhounds stated that a custodial sentence
may lead to the closure of the hunt, as the hounds only responded
to Woodhouse, and that as exercising the hounds was now curtailed
due to the Foot & Mouth outbreak no-one else could deal
with them.
New Forest Foxhounds
On 25/10/96 John Mitchell (56) of Outlands Lane, Curdridge, Hampshire was found guilty
of careless driving by New Forest magistrates. The court was
told how Mitchell, who is the amateur whipper-in with the
New Forest Foxhounds had sandwiched a hunt sab from Southampton
between a van and a Land Rover. The incident happened when
a sab was standing close to the side of a Land Rover when
Mitchell drove past, the front wheel went over the sabs left
foot and the wing mirror hit his shoulder, it was at this
point when he was sandwiched between the two vehicles. The
Southampton sab suffered a badly sprained ankle and other
injuries. A police officer on duty at the time of the incident
said other vehicles had found room to pass comfortably. Mitchell
also claimed in court it was a "set-up". The court imposed
a fine of £180 with £150 costs and had seven penalty points
put on his driving licence.
North Norfolk Harriers
The Huntsman of the North Norfolk Harriers, Boyce Keeling was successfully convicted of assault
on a local saboteur, whom he beat with the handle of his whip.
O
Oakley Hunt
A hunt master was handcuffed by police after she drove away
from a hunt breakfast more than three and half times over
the limit Northampton Crown Court on 23/4/02. Charlotte
Wilson-Smith (39) threatened to punch a police
officer in the face when he arrived with two colleagues at
her farmhouse after receiving reports that she was driving
dangerously. Minutes earlier she had been seen falling out
of her car by a driver who followed her home after seeing
her straying into the opposite lane and mounting a grass verge.
The court was told that when the police arrived at Wilson-Smith's
farmhouse they found her trying to climb over a barbed wire
fence into a field. When asked to return to the courtyard,
she replied: "I will punch you in the face in a minute," the
court heard. After she insisted on walking off to attend to
a horse, she was handcuffed and arrested. Wilson-Smith, Master
of the Oakley Hunt, admitted a charge of dangerous driving.
The jury heard Wilson-Smith was making her way home from a
hunt breakfast held at Newton Bromswold point-to-point racecourse.
Wilson-Smith said she had taken part in a sponsored bike ride
to raise funds for the hunt before attending a hunt breakfast.
She said she had a couple of glasses of sparkling wine but
later discovered someone had been topping up her glass. She
agreed she had been drinking Bucks Fizz. "With hindsight I
should not have driven," she told the court. She said she
had driven cautiously with a bicycle on a rack on the back
of her vehicle. At the junction, she thought she had time
to pull out. Wilson-Smith said: "I heard a bit of a screech.
I looked in the rear view mirror and the van was very close.
I remember I was being followed and that is why I may have
put my foot down a bit more. I was a little bit concerned
because I thought I was being followed by a hunt saboteur.
I got out and told him to clear off because it was private
property." Inside her house, she said she drank some German
beer and added she was "petrified" when she saw the police
arrive. She said that was when she tried to get over the fence
and found herself being handcuffed. Asked why she had threatened
to punch a PC she replied: "I was quite frightened. Policemen
were running after you and all I was doing was trying to catch
a horse." She was later found to be three and a half times
over the limit. The jury took 30 minutes to find Wilson-Smith
guilty of dangerous driving. She then admitted driving with
excess alcohol. Recorder Andrew Tidbury adjourned sentence
for reports. He asked for a medical report because of Wilson-Smith's
high alcohol reading. During the trial the court heard she
had been taking antidepressants at the time. At Northampton
Crown Court on 29/5/02 Charlotte Wilson-Smith of Poplars Farm, Wymington, Northants, burst into tears and
wiped her face with a tissue as a judge sentenced her to three
months in prison. She was also banned from driving for three
and a half years. She was found guilty of dangerous driving
and admitted drink-driving after she was found to be three
and a half times over the limit.
Old Surrey and Burstow Foxhounds
Nigel Trevithick-Wood, husband of an Old Surrey
and Burstow Foxhounds Joint Master, received a 6 month suspended
sentence for punching a sab in the face at a cubbing meet.
In a related incident 1st whipper-in (now huntsman) Mark
Bycroft was also found guilty of assault and ordered
to do community service.
Old Surrey and Burstow Foxhounds
Kenneth Banks, foot follower of the Old Surrey
And Burstow Foxhounds received a 12 month suspended sentence
for punching a saboteur in the groin.
Old Surrey and Burstow Foxhounds
A huntsman who tried to stop a woman filming him after his
horse died of a heart attack in Hartfield, pleaded guilty
to causing actual bodily harm and damaging a video camera. Jonathan Wilkinson (38)
from Powder Mills, Leigh, was given a conditional discharge
and ordered to pay £50 costs and £550 compensation at Lewes
Magistrates on 26/4/01. He admitted trying to stop a 58-year-old
woman from Brighton from filming him when his horse collapsed
and died during an Old Surrey and Burstow Foxhounds and West
Kent Hunt meet. Wendy Peckham, spokesperson for the Countryside
Alliance, said: "Jo did let his emotions get the better of
him but apologised readily at the time and was given credit
for his guilty plea in court. He will be riding with the hunt
in the future as these were extreme circumstances and in normal
conditions he is a perfect gentleman."
Old Surrey and Burstow Foxhounds
On 9/1/03 Julian Leefe-Griffiths of Hollyhill, Colemans Hatch, admitted keeping a vehicle without
an excise licence. He was fined £190 plus £45
prosecution costs, and ordered to pay £160 back duty.
Leefe-Griffiths hunts with the Old Surrey & Burstow and
West Kent Foxhounds.
P
Pendle Forest and Craven Harriers
Robert Layland,
an ex-hunt master of the Pendle Forest and Craven Harriers
has been banned from keeping horses and dogs for the rest
of his life. He also received a three month jail sentence
and a fine. Layland admitted causing unnecessary suffering
to five racehorses, eleven other horses were also rescued
from the premises. Although they have all been guaranteed
good homes it was originally feared they would be sold by
the Official Receiver to recover monies owed. Blackburn Magistrates
Court heard how the horses were emaciated and lice-ridden,
standing in three-foot deep manure and unable to move. Happily
all the horses are now on the road to recovery and are being
looked after by the horse and pony association, HAPPA.
Pennine Foxhounds
Builder John Black (41)
from Holmfirth, West Yorkshire admitted assaulting gamekeeper John Hollingworth (52)
at a social evening of the Pennine Foxhounds at Millbrook,
Stalybridge. On 23/1/98 Ashton under Lyne magistrates fined
him £150 with £150 compensation.
Portman Foxhounds
Edward Lycett-Green of the Portman Foxhounds, was
given a 12 month conditional discharge for criminal damage.
Originally 5 hunt followers including Lycett-Green were charged
with various charges of affray, violent disorder, assault
and theft after an incident when a blocked-in sab landrover
had its windows smashed, a camera was smashed and stolen and
the occupants, including a local reporter, were attacked.
Unbelievably, at the trial the cps refused to offer any evidence
for the affray and violent disorder charges and only Lycett-green
was convicted. Patricia Harris,
a rider with the Portman Foxhounds, convicted of criminal
damage to sab property and given a conditional discharge.
Puckeridge Foxhounds
Supporters of the Puckeridge Foxhounds, Ronald Edwards and his son Steven,
bound over for a year by the sum of £200 after an incident
in which a sab was beaten unconscious. Another hunt heavy
was also fined £100 with £303.41 costs and compensation for
damage caused to a saboteur's car, when he crushed it with
his own.
Pytchley Hunt
The Pytchley Hunt have been fined £5,000 and ordered to pay
costs of £820 for causing poisonous, noxious or polluting
matter to enter a watercourse, after blood from animal carcasses
drained into surface water drains rather than foul drains. Richard Payne, the hunt's
secretary and representative pleaded guilty to the charge.
This is similar to an incident in 1996 when the West
Norfolk Foxhounds were fined £5,000 with £449.29
costs after admitting knowingly permitting pollution of a
stream.
Q
Quantock Staghounds
Edward Vickery of the Quantock Staghounds, convicted
of assault after riding down and attacking a saboteur. Fined
£600.
Quantock Staghounds
Two hunt supporters who attacked a League Against Cruel Sports
(LACS) cameraman filming a staghunt were jailed as an example
to others. John William Bere (25) of Bishop's Nympton, near South Molton, Devon, and Dean
John Richards (38) of Bish Mill, South Molton,
punched a anti-hunt supporter during a meet of the Quantock
Staghounds at East Quantoxhead then took his video camera.
They pleaded guilty at Taunton Crown Court on 15/1/99 to assault
and theft and Richards was sentenced to six months jail while
Bere was given a four month sentence. The judge heard how
a wing mirror on the LACS members car was damaged while he
was parked and colleagues told him Bere and Richards were
responsible. When he approached them, Richards became aggressive
and told him to turn of his camera. As he looked down, he
felt a blow to the right side of his face and fell to the
ground. When he got up he was struck on the other side and
the camera was tugged from around his neck as he fell. Both
men denied any offence at first and Richards said the LACS
member had it in for him. Bere said he had never been in trouble
before but had momentarily lost his temper and had lost his
job as a result. He intends to continue supporting the hunt
but a lesson has been very well learned. Richards said he
was a countryman "through and through and hunting has been
one of the most important things in his life. He has been
a follower of the hunt for all of his adult life and allowed
his love of hunting to rule his head." He also admitted he
had been involved in another incident with the LACS member
in 1996.
Quorn Foxhounds
Quorn Foxhounds employee Timothy
Taylor found guilty of possessing an unlicensed
shotgun. Fined £100 with £37 costs.
Quorn Foxhounds
Three men who were employed by one of Prince Charles' favourite
hunts appeared at Leicester Crown Court on charges relating
to violent attacks on hunt saboteurs. Dean
John Ironmonger (39) from Wysall, Notts; Kenneth
Scott Rumph (22) from Willoughby-on-the-Wolds,
Leics and Paul John Tomlinson (40) from Clifton, Nottingham faced on a range of charges
relating to an incident which occurred at a meet of the Quorn
Foxhounds on the 4/3/00. All three were employed as hunt stewards
on the day. Sadly on 23/1/01 all three were cleared of attacking
hunt sabs after a judge ruled court regulations had been broken.
The case collapsed following legal arguments over abuse of
process relating to the disclosure of photographs and video
footage taken at the hunt. Tomlinson had denied assault occasioning
actual bodily harm in relation to one saboteur. Ironmonger
and Rumph had denied affray. Rumph was also charged with dangerous
driving.
R
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Seavington Hunt
A hunt supporter of the Seavington Hunt who trespassed on
a railway line was caught on camera and reported to the police
by a member of League Against Cruel Sports. Yeovil magistrates
heard on 8/8/96 how Bernard Martin (58) of New Close, Haselbury Plucknett, Somerset was filmed
walking along the track with a number of others during a meet
of the hunt. In his defence Martin said "He had been led to
believe that checks had been done and no trains were running
on that day. He had been doing what he did that day for many
years. Ignorance of the law is no excuse but no-one ever stopped
him". Martin was given a 12 month conditional discharge and
ordered to pay £20 costs, a charge of trespass against his
son Paul Martin (32) was
dismissed at the request of the prosecution.
Shamrock Harriers
The huntsman of the Shamrock Harriers was fined £100 for cruelty
to hounds in his care. The huntsman, claims that the hounds
were 'knackered' after a hard season was not accepted by the
court. (C.W. 20/2/98)
Sinnington Hunt
A farmer arrested for his part in an illegal campaign to save
bloodsports says he was prepared to go to jail for his beliefs. Peter Teasdale (48) from Pockley, near Kirkbymoorside is a member of a group
of hunt supporters who have been painting pro- bloodsports
slogans. The slogans have appeared over the last couple of
months on roads and public signs. The clean-up is estimated
to be costing North Yorkshire County Council thousands of
pounds. "I know what I did was against the law, but I
just feel so passionately about fox-hunting," said Teasdale.
On 3/9/02 Teasdale appeared at Scarborough magistrates, but
no hearing took place after Crown Prosecutors announced he
was instead to receive nothing more than a caution. Teasdale
had been accused of damaging six signs around Nawton and Hawnby
valued at £1,971 and further signs to the value of £1,371.
He was also accused of possessing four tins of spray paint
and a stencil of "Hands Off Hunting" with the intent
to cause damage to property belonging to North Yorkshire County
Council. Teasdale is a member of the Sinnington Hunt.
South and West Wiltshire Foxhound
The South and West Wiltshire Foxhound's Kennelman
sacked after being convicted of section 4 of the public order
act. He had violently rocked a sab's car with people inside.
He was also convicted of drink driving at the time.
South Cornwall Hunt
A hunt master let a young foxhound become so horrifically
emaciated she could barely stand, magistrates heard on 29/4/04. Stephen Parkin (42) of North Road, Whitemoor, Cornwall allowed an 11-month-old
bitch, to almost starve to death. She was reduced to a "bag
of bones" and was found on the verge of collapse weighing
less than two stone. Liskeard magistrates' were told the dog
was also kept in filthy conditions, with sodden, urine-soaked
bedding. Parkin has admitted causing unnecessary suffering while he was Master
and Kennelman of South Cornwall Hunt. Parkin initially denied
the charge, but changed his plea at an earlier hearing. He
quit the hunt after the RSPCA launched an investigation into
allegations of cruelty. The court was told members folded
the hunt, which had a 30-year tradition in Cornwall, after
his resignation. Officers from the RSPCA visited the hunt's
Woodland Barton Kennels after a tip-off from a member of the
public. The court was told the foxhound had sores in her mouth,
and was bleeding slightly from her anus, both attributed to
malnutrition. Parkin had been Master of the Hunt for nine years, and Kennel Master-Huntsman
for six years. On 6/5/04 he was given a 12-month conditional
discharge and ordered to pay £200 and banned from keeping
dogs for five years.
South Dorset Foxhounds
South Dorset Foxhounds kennelman Nicholas Stevens and two of his friends all bound
over to keep the peace after an incident when 3 sabs were
cornered in a field and attacked.
South Dorset Foxhounds
Keith Nobbs, New Forest Foxhounds Terrierman and Nick Stevens (again!),
South Dorset Foxhounds Kennelman, both fined £200 for criminal
damage to a sab vehicle. The car, with sabs inside it, had
been overturned at a meet of the South Dorset Foxhounds.
South Dorset Foxhounds
2 followers of the South Dorset Foxhounds convicted of criminal
damage after over-turning a saboteur's car - with sabs inside
it! They were ordered to pay compensation to the car's owner.
South Dorset Foxhounds
Paul Martin attacked a sab repeatedly at a joint
meet of the South Dorset Foxhounds and the Cattistock Foxhounds.
He pleaded guilty to ABH and was only given a conditional
discharge, as no medical evidence was given.
South Devon Foxhounds
Simon William (31), who runs the kennels of the
South Devon Foxhounds, was given a one-year conditional discharge
and made to pay costs of £125 for threatening a hunt saboteur
(the kind of threatening behaviour that involves a 5 foot
metal pole.)
South Nottingham Foxhounds
Nicholas Grooby (22), of Paradise Lane, Old Dolby,
Leicestershire (an unpaid terrierman for South Nottingham
Foxhounds), Gary Pearson (34) of Souldern Way, Longton, Stoke-on-Trent, David
William Edwards (48) of Roughcoat Lane, Cavershall,
Stoke-on-Trent and Mark John Hulme (33) of Ash Grove, Rode Heath, Stoke-on-Trent were all found
guilty by Nottingham magistrates on 15/1/97 of attempting
to take a badger, digging for badgers and interfering with
a badger sett. The court heard how they were spotted by a
local gamekeeper who had watched them digging at a well known
badger sett. One of them had a dog locator scanner while another
was poking a large metal spike into the ground. On 20/2/97
they were all sentenced to four months for attempting to take
a badger, two months for digging for badgers and two months
for interfering with a badger sett. All sentences are to run
concurrently. They were also banned from keeping animals for
5 years. Following the appeal in July they all had their sentences
reduced to 120 hours community service plus costs of either
£400 or £500.
South Nottingham Foxhounds
Stephen Barnes, a rider with the South Notts Foxhounds,
found to have deliberately ridden over a female saboteur,
breaking her elbow and causing severe bruising, in a civil
case brought by the saboteur. She was awarded £2,500 compensation.
Barnes was apparently 'banned' from riding with the hunt after
the incident in 1993.
South Shropshire Foxhounds
Eight bloodsports supporters appeared at Bow Street magistrates
on 21/12/04 in connection with a hunting protest inside the
House of Commons. They all pleaded not guilty to disorderly
conduct charges under Section 5 of the Public Order Act. The
men were given unconditional bail to return in January. They
were Otis Ferry (22) of Keeper’s Cottage, Eaton Mascott, Shrewsbury. Ferry is also
the joint master and huntsman of the South Shropshire Foxhounds. Luke Tomlinson (27) of Down Farm, Westonbirt, Gloucestershire, who is a friend
of princes William and Harry. David
Redvers (34) of Corsend Farm, Hartpury, Gloucestershire; Richard Wakeham (36) of Alma Terrace, York; Nicholas
Wood (41) of Bowden Park, Lacock, Wiltshire; John Holiday (37) of Ledbury Kennels, Bromesberrow, Herefordshire. Holiday
is also the huntsman of The Ledbury Foxhounds; Robert
Thame (35) of Piper's Cottage, Paley Street,
Maidenhead, Berkshire, Thame also hunts with the Bicester and Whaddon Chase Hunt; and Andrew
Elliot (42) of Laurel Cottage, Allbright Lane,
Bromesberrow, Herefordshire, Elliot rides with the Ledbury
Foxhounds.
South Westmeath Harriers
Spokesperson for the Irish Masters of Foxhounds Association James E Norton appeared
in court on charges under the Control of Dogs Act. During
an incident in February 1997 when the South Westmeath Harriers
went out of control 12 sheep were killed and eight were injured.
Suffolk Hunt
Hunt saboteurs in East Anglia are fuming after a hunt supporter
guilty of assaulting a female protestor and a policeman was
given a 12 month bind over on 21/6/02 by Bury St Edmunds magistrates.
"This amounts to nothing more than a slap on the wrists for
him and a slap in the face for us" said one member of Suffolk
and Essex Sabs, the local hunt saboteur group. Sabs had been
using non-violent direct action to prevent the Suffolk Hunt
killing foxes when Martin Nunn,
a supporter of the hunt who is also known to help out with
kennel duties, attacked a hunt saboteur. When a policeman
intervened to halt the attack, he too was assaulted. The incident
at Wepstead near Bury St Edmunds was clearly captured on video.
Hunt Saboteurs Association spokesperson Nathan Brown commented:
"Is it any wonder that hunt supporters continue to attack
people who protest against them when this is the punishment
they receive?
Surrey Union Foxhounds
John Funnell, Master of the Surrey Union Foxhounds
found guilty of ABH on Brixton saboteur. The sab needed stitches
to a serious head wound and was left scarred for life after
Funnell rode his horse over him twice. He was given a 2 month
prison sentence, suspended for 2 years.
Surrey Union Foxhounds
Leading supporter of the Surrey Union Foxhounds, Noel Cahill, arrested in November after an attack
on saboteurs left one hospitalised. Police searching his home
found a death threat ready to be posted to the HSA press officer.
Surrey Union Foxhounds
Surrey Union Foxhounds Supporter, Gary John Moore, pleaded guilty to two charges
of common assault and affray after an unprovoked attack on
local saboteurs outside a pub. At the time of his arrest police
had to drag him off his victim, who had already been beaten
to the ground. Even while he was restrained Moore attempted
to kick the saboteur in the head. He was fined £500.
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Tedworth Hunt
Rodney Ellis who is the
joint master of the Tedworth Hunt escaped a driving ban after
blaming his wife's riding injury. Ellis (57) from Malborough,
Wiltshire told Kennet magistrates on 1/5/98 how he drove home
because his wife had fallen of her horse earlier in the day
and could not drive home from a hunt dinner. One of the magistrates
Lady Belinda Johnston (wife of Wiltshire's Lord Lieutenant
General, Sir Maurice Johnston) said "You had just cause in
driving because this was a sufficient emergency". When he
was stopped by police Ellis was arrested after he refused
to give a breath sample. However, he later agreed to provide
on, which showed he was nearly twice over the legal limit.
Magistrates imposed a fine of £450. Ellis appeared before Devizes magistrates after an Appeal
Court ordered him to be re-sentenced. On 10/12/98 he was disqualified
from diving for three years after police found he was twice
over the legal limit.
Tiverton Staghounds
Dean John Richards (36) of Glebelands Villas, Bishops
Nympton, Devon pleaded guilty to two charges of assault at
Tiverton magistrates on 20/9/96. The court were told how two
LACS sanctuary officers were monitoring the Tiverton Staghounds.
During the day Richards had thrust himself through their car
window, both the monitors inside were hit around the face
and one video camera was damaged. In court, Richards claimed
he had been given the task of getting between the hounds and
the stag to stop them attacking it. Magistrates fined Richards
£50 for each assault with £69 costs and ordered him to pay
£25 to each of the victims.
Tiverton Staghounds
On 31/8/04 the Tiverton Staghounds paid £500 to the
League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) in an out-of-court settlement
over the shooting of a stag in a sanctuary belonging to the
league. The hunt and the LACS have been in dispute about the
fate of the stag since the incident at the LACS sanctuary
at Morebath near Bampton in October 2002.
Tynedale Foxhounds
William Bolton, Paul Hawkes and David Lynne, supporters
of the Tynedale Foxhounds, all bound over to keep the peace
for 2 years in the sum of £200, after a vicious and unprovoked
attack on a Tyneside sab. Bolton also admitted a further charge
of criminal damage for which he was fined £50 with £24.41
compensation.
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Vale of Aylesbury Hunt
Georgina Blundell of Pasturo farm, Stadhampton,
Oxfordshire who is a member of the Vale of Aylesbury Hunt was cautioned by the police following an incident
with an anti-hunt protester. The incident happened at a her
farm when Blundell hurt the protester with her horse.
Vale Of Clettwr Foxhounds
On 14/2/00 the master and three other members of the Vale
of Clettwr Hunt were cleared of interfering with a badger sett by destroying
it. Hunt master David Lyn Lloyd (47) of Blaenpant Farm, Pencader and terriermen John
Geraint Owen Thomas (48) of Gwarbistgwynwydd, Maesycrugiau,
and Gethin Jones (46) of
Gardde, Cwmdwyfran and foot follower John
Gareth Jones (64) of Golygfa, Heol Gilfachwen,
Llandysul had encroached without permission on to forestry
land. Gethin Jones who said he had 30 years' experience as
a terrierman, dismissed a prosecution suggestion that he had
disturbed an active badger's sett and said he had walked around
the area and had not seen any signs of setts. John Geraint
Thomas said, "I have been a terrierman for over 30 years and
there is no doubt in my mind that this was not a badger's
sett. I know there are active setts in the area but we couldn't
see these from where we were."
Vale Of Clettwr Foxhounds
Three supporters of the Vale Of Clettwr Foxhounds bound over
to the keep the peace for a year after an incident when a
sab van was surrounded and the driver dragged out and held
upside down. Terrierman Emyr Davies and supporters John Galmore Jones
and John Geraint Owens denied violent disorder
and the theft of 6 items of sab equipment.
Vale Of White Horse Foxhounds
Vale Of White Horse Foxhounds Whipper-In, Matthew Calcot was ordered to pay £130 compensation
and was bound over for a year for the sum of £100 after the
windscreen of Oxford HSA'S van was smashed.
Vale of White Horse Foxhounds
Wooton Bassett magistrates heard how Richard
Lovett (41) of Meysey Hampton, Cirencester, Gloucestershire
blocked up a sett in readiness for hunting the following day.
Lovett is the terrierman for the Vale of White Horse Foxhounds,
based at Meysey Hampton. Lovett (who is also a former gamekeeper
and Gloucestershire Area Representative for the Fell and Moorland
Working Terrier Club) gave evidence for five hours, during
which he totally denied having done anything wrong and said
he had followed the Masters of Foxhounds Association rules
diligently. Many witnesses were called in an attempt to persuade
the court that blocking up the sett entrances with lumps of
wet, heavy clay did not conflict with the Protection of Badgers
Act, which dictates that if earth is used it must consist
of 'loose soil'. The trial lasted for 6 days after which Lovett
was found guilty and fined £100. Lovett appeared at Swindon
Crown Court to appeal against his conviction for illegally
blocking a badger sett. The Crown Court rejected his appeal
and decided that Lovett had committed the offence.
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Waterloo Cup
Paul Willingale was sentenced to 6 months in prison
for a vicious attack on Eddie Coulson who was attending his
first sab at the Waterloo Cup hare coursing event. As a consequence
Mr Coulson, who needed emergency surgery to remove bone splinters
& a blood clot, suffered a fractured skull and is left
afflicted by epileptic fits.
Waveney Harriers
Robert Rous, Master Of Hounds and David Trotman,
Kennel Huntsman of The Waveney Harriers both
bound over to keep the peace after an incident when a hunt
saboteur had to be taken to hospital following repeated lashing
from a riding crop. The C.P.S. attempted to drop the case
after medical evidence was 'lost', and witnesses weren't called.
Wensleydale Foxhounds
Maurice Bell who is the Master of the Wensleydale Foxhounds convicted of assault and
actual bodily harm on two saboteurs, one of which he knocked
unconscious and left needing stitches. A female sab was also
dragged over a barbed wire covered wall. Bell was fined a
total of £150.
West Kent Hunt
A huntsman who tried to stop a woman filming him after his
horse died of a heart attack in Hartfield, pleaded guilty
to causing actual bodily harm and damaging a video camera. Jonathan Wilkinson (38)
from Powder Mills, Leigh, was given a conditional discharge
and ordered to pay £50 costs and £550 compensation at Lewes
Magistrates on 26/4/01. He admitted trying to stop a 58-year-old
woman from Brighton from filming him when his horse collapsed
and died during an Old Surrey and Burstow Foxhounds and West
Kent Hunt meet. Wendy Peckham, spokesperson for the Countryside
Alliance, said: "Jo did let his emotions get the better of
him but apologised readily at the time and was given credit
for his guilty plea in court. He will be riding with the hunt
in the future as these were extreme circumstances and in normal
conditions he is a perfect gentleman."
West Kent Hunt
On 9/1/03 Julian Leefe-Griffiths of Hollyhill, Colemans Hatch, admitted keeping a vehicle without
an excise licence. He was fined £190 plus £45
prosecution costs, and ordered to pay £160 back duty.
Leefe-Griffiths hunts with the Old Surrey & Burstow and
West Kent Foxhounds
West Norfolk Foxhounds
The Pytchley Hunt have been fined £5,000 and ordered to pay
costs of £820 for causing poisonous, noxious or polluting
matter to enter a watercourse, after blood from animal carcasses
drained into surface water drains rather than foul drains. Richard Payne, the hunt's
secretary and representative pleaded guilty to the charge.
This is similar to an incident in 1996 when the West Norfolk
Foxhounds were fined £5,000 with £449.29 costs after admitting
knowingly permitting pollution of a stream.
West Norfolk Foxhounds
Pro-hunt farmer, Mark Fuller,
attacked an Anglia TV reporter out with local saboteurs, at
a cubbing meet of the West Norfolk
Foxhounds. After assaulting the reporter,
Fuller proceeded to destroy two video cameras and smashed
a van's windscreen. He was convicted of affray and 3 counts
of criminal damage. He was ordered to pay £1050 in fines,
£1463 in compensation and £150 costs - a total of £2663.
Woodland Pytchley Hunt
An unemployed gamekeeper was given a 6 month conditional discharge
and ordered to pay costs at Corby Magistrates court on 3/5/02
after he pleaded guilty to smashing a hunt saboteur's CB radio. Mr W. Playford was arrested
at a meet of the Woodland Pytchley Hunt at Stoke Albany where
he was acting as a hunt steward. A hunt saboteur had been
trying to stop the hunt chasing a fox when he was punched
to the ground by another man, dropping the CB. It was then
that Playford deliberately smashed the radio. Whilst hunt
saboteurs welcomed the guilty plea, they were disappointed
to receive no compensation for the radio, which will cost
around £100 to replace. They were also concerned at the light
sentence and the fact that no action has been taken over the
assault that took place that day. Hunt Saboteurs Association
spokesperson, Nathan Brown said, "Yet again hunting has shown
its true nature. Non-violent tactics of hunt saboteurs save
animals' lives and are frequently met with attacks and aggression
from the bullies in the hunting fraternity. This hunt has
a reputation for the violence meted out to protesters. David Reynolds, Master of the Woodland Pytchley
Hunt, is a prominent member of the Countryside Alliance, who
have now threatened a 'summer of discontent' showing total
disregard for the democratic process. I fear we will see more
attacks on peaceful opponents of hunting."
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York and Ainsty South Foxhounds
Christopher Rooke (37) of Newton-on-Ouse, North
Yorkshire who is an amateur terrierman with the York and Ainsty
South Foxhounds was fined £750 with £60 costs by Easingwold
magistrates after admitting interfering with a badger sett.
The incident happened during a meet of the York and Ainsty
South. A local landowner who had fenced off an area of his
land which contained a badger sett, felt the fewer people
who knew about the it the better. However, later that day
the landowner noticed the fence had been broken down and somebody
was digging up the sett. Rooke who has 20 years experience
an amateur terrierman did not believe it was a sett, he thought
it was a rabbit warren, and was told there was a fox down
it and it was his job to get the fox out. Mr Darwin, mitigating
said: "It wasn't his intention to harm the badger or the sett
and he has expressed his remorse".
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VARIOUS
At Tower Bridge magistrates on 29/9/04 a bloodsports supporter who took part in the demonstration outside Parliament on 15 /9/04 swore and spat at police who tried to move him out of the road. Brett Parsons (31) from Stickle Ball Hill Farm, Sticklynch, Glastonbury, Somerset admitted threatening behaviour and obstructing the highway and was ordered to carry out 75 hours unpaid community work and fined £75. Parsons, Parsons was also told to pay £50 towards prosecution costs.
Lucy Ferry admitted her part in the pro-bloodports demonstration in London on 15/9/04. She was given a 12-month conditional discharge at Bow Street magistrates on 21/9/04 after admitting obstructing the traffic. Ferry, who was also ordered to pay £40 court costs. Jackie Coward (18) girlfriend of Ferry's son Otis, pleaded guilty to the same charge and also received a conditional discharge and was order to pay court costs. Magistrates heard how at 6am on the day of the Countryside Alliance protest in Parliament Square, police were in the process of setting up cordons. As a police carrier came to a set of red lights, two vehicles appeared to park up at the lights. The defendants got out of the cars. They walked away so that when the lights turned green, the carrier was unable to proceed. She said when police spoke to the two women, they refused to move their cars. Coward said: "We were making a political statement and I was quite shocked at what happened. I'm surprised I have had to come back down here. I am a poor student from up in Newcastle”. Coward admitted that her car had been blocking the highway.
Martin Philips 'sympathies' towards the hunt were so inflamed by the sight of two HSA sweatshirts, that he attacked the people inside them, leaving one requiring stitches to his face. Philips was fined £325, and ordered to pay £25 to each of his victims, as well as £19 damages for breaking a pair of spectacles.
Paul Connolly attacked a sab with a pickaxe handle, beating him while he lay on the ground. Fined £500 for assault.
Bloodsports fanatic Jim Newbury Street jailed for nine months after planting a bomb under his own landrover in an attempt to discredit sabs.
Francis Momber (again) found guilty of criminal damage to a Portsmouth sab landrover. He was given a 1 year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £500 costs and £175 compensation.
Hunt supporters Adrian Bungay (again) and Keith Corbett (again), both given conditional discharges for 1 year after an attack on two Southampton saboteurs. Both men had to pay costs and compensation to their victims.
Christopher R G Nichol , hired steward, admitted assault on a female Pickering hunt sab, who suffered cuts and bruises. Fined £370 after admitting in court that he 'lost his temper'.
Andrew Pearce head-butted the camcorder being used by a League Against Cruel Sports monitor because he mistook him for a sab. The monitor receives bruises and a swollen lip as a result. Pearce was convicted of assault and given a 2-year conditional discharge.
A haulier was sentenced to four months in prison and banned from keeping any animal for five years after becoming the first man ever to be caught unlawfully transporting a live badger. Desmond Joseph Mackin (43) of Castle Lodge, Banbridge, County Down, Northern Ireland (formally an official representative of the Fell and Moorland Working Terrier Club ) pleaded guilty to charges of possession of a badger and ill-treating a badger at Darlington magistrates on 6/10/97. Mackin was arrested by Durham police after being stopped in his lorry. Police requested RSPCA assistance after discovering a live badger tied up in a sack in the back of the lorry. Mackin had travelled to County Durham from Northern Ireland. An inspector of the RSPCA's Special Operations Unit, who assisted Durham police, said: "This is an extremely important case. It confirms our suspicions that badgers are being dug out and transported elsewhere for baiting. The badger was found tied up and covered in mud in the middle of the loaded wagon and we believe it had been driven all the way from Northern Ireland to be baited over here". The badger was later found to be pregnant and after recovering from the ordeal gave birth to three cubs. After rehabilitation, the sow along with all the cubs were successfully released into the wild in the South of England.
Robert Venner (30) who is a farmer from the West Country was ordered to pay £4,000 compensation to the League Against Cruel Sports after a practical joke went wrong. Apparently Venner tried to pinch a flag from the L.A.C.S. stand at the 1997 Devon show, however, he found himself in trouble when he smashed an awning and broke a windscreen.
Paul Martin and his father Bernard Martin convicted of affray and Paul's uncle Colin Martin convicted of section 4 after they broke into the back of a sab van and attacked the occupants with spades and wooden staves. A sab photographing the event was dragged from the van and beaten while the family of thugs tried to remove his film.
A farmer has been found guilty of driving his Land Rover at a group of hunt protesters. Sampson Smith (45) of Church Lane, Ashington denied aiming his vehicle at the protesters. On 15/1/99 Chichester Crown Court heard how a police officer had witnessed the incident. He said Smith had sped at a group of protesters then shunted back and forth at the group of 30 people before getting out and brandishing a cane above his head. The jury convicted Smith of dangerous driving and was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay costs of £1,184. He was also banned from driving for 12 months and ordered to retake a driving test before going back onto the road.
An experienced gunman accused of blinding a grouse beater on a shoot has been found not guilty of wounding. Bradford Crown Court heard on 16/9/99 how Graham Hill from Bury had been beating when a bird was flushed out. Ian Brearley from Ramsbottom fired as it flew towards the group. The trial was halted when the judge ruled there was insufficient evidence against him.
Geoffrey Allen (45) of The Pry, Frith Common, Menith Wood, near Bewdley used to produced articles for bloodsport magazines until he was jailed on 2/9/99 for four years after admitting buggery, indecent assault and gross indecency. The offences were committed against two 13-year-old boys.
On 11/11/00 at Kidderminster magistrates Messrs James ( a huntsman ) and Mallard ( a joint master of hounds ) each pleaded guilty to two charges brought by Hereford and Worcester County Council of inadequate separation and staining of SBM contrary to the SBM Order. Mr James was fined £500 on each charge and ordered to pay £2,000 costs (total £3000). Mallard was fined £1,000 on each charge with £5,000 costs (total £7000).
A cornish huntsman who admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to his hounds said that foot and mouth restrictions had contributed to his inability to feed them properly. Stephen Heard (45) of Padstow, was banned from keeping animals for ten years after magistrates at Launceston heard on 18/6/02 how two pregnant beagles were found dead at his kennels with no food or water. A previous conviction had already banned Heard from keeping cattle. Heard, a part-time dairy worker who kept the hounds on an "informal" basis, pleaded guilty to three counts of causing unnecessary suffering to two beagle bitches and a beagle puppy which was confiscated by the RSPCA. As well as the ban, he was sentenced to 240 hours of community service to be undertaken in the next 12 months and ordered to pay £559.48 in costs to the RSPCA. David Hobbs was the RSPCA inspector who was sent to the kennels, Rose Avanon near Winnards Perch, St Columb, in Cornwall, after an anonymous tip-off. Outside the court, he said: "The conditions in that ramshackle building were shocking. "The animals were cramped, and there was not a dry area in the whole place. It was soaked in urine and mess. The smell was horrendous. "In one area the dogs had only a raised concrete platform to lie on and in another a wooden platform with nails sticking out of it. "There was no bedding at all and no fixed containers for water. Almost all of the water bowls were empty. It was squalid." He phoned veterinary surgeon Mr Hill, whose post-mortem examination revealed nothing in the beagle's entire gastro-intestinal tract, signifying she had had nothing to eat for about 48 hours. The bitch had been close to giving birth to eight puppies. A puppy in the same kennel as the dead bitch was taken away from Heard after it was found to be severely dehydrated. It was later re-homed by the RSPCA. Another beagle bitch was also found dead, again with eight unborn puppies. A post mortem examination revealed the bitch was dehydrated, and the only items in her digestive system were soil and a few leaves. Tissue samples from both dead hounds were sent to a laboratory and came back negative to external illness. They have banned him for 10 years from keeping animals, but in my view it would be better if it were a lifetime.
A bookmaker was fined after he admitted yelling racist abuse at last months Countryside Alliance march. Peter Smith (21) High Lane, Chelvey Batch, near Backwell who works in his family's bookmaking business, clashed with Mr Khan after he waved an anti-fox hunting banner at the demonstration in central London. Smith was fined £500 and ordered to pay £55 costs at Bow Street magistrates on 28/10/02. He was voicing his support for the Countryside Alliance during the march at Whitehall when he clashed with Mr Khan. Mr Khan was demonstrating against hunting and was waving a banner when Smith went up to him and tapped him on the head with a plastic hunting horn before hurling racist abuse. Smith admitted a charge of using racial abuse.
At Redhill magistrates on 5/12/02 four pro-hunt supporters each admitted driving a vehicle without reasonable consideration for other road users. The accused were Graeme Worsley of Effingham Lane, Copthorne, Mark Bycroft (31) of London Road, Felbridge, Christopher Whittaker of London Road, Felbridge, and Robert Mann (57) of Ashill, Ilminster, Somerset. The convoy was seen driving at little more than 30mph at a busy time of the day. Whittaker, speaking in court, said the protest had been organised by the Union of Countryside Sports Workers. He read out a statement to the bench which said: "On behalf of all four of us, we would like to say we are law-abiding and regret taking this action which was designed not to harm anything or anybody. "We kept to about 30mph and believed we were within the law. We feel we are losing our liberty. In my case, if hunting is lost, I'd lose my home and job. We apologise unreservedly but had to do something to bring action to our cause." Each was fined £100 and ordered to pay £35 costs. Each had three penalty points put on their licences.