Vale of White Hunt Supporter Cautioned

A HUNT supporter subjected a grandmother to a torrent of verbal abuse and caused several hundred pounds worth of damage to her car in a bid to stop her monitoring the Vale of the White Horse Hunt.

Judy Gilbert, 60, was left shaken by the ordeal as she watched the VWH at Filkins Farm near Lechlade but determined to carry on doing her job.

The incident happened on December 2, 2006 but came to light this week when her attacker was cautioned by Thames Valley Police.

Mrs Gilbert found her vehicle blocked onto a grass verge by hunt supporters who then shouted a volley of abusive and lurid language at her.

Video footage handed to Thames Valley police shows a 68-year-old man, understood to come from the Cirencester area, forcibly pulling Mrs Gilbert's car door open while swearing at her.

Later on Mrs Gilbert says the same man reversed his own vehicle towards her forcing her to leap out of the way.

The man was this week handed two adult cautions after admitting criminal damage to the sum of £540 and a public order offence.

He also apologised for his actions.

Mrs Gilbert, who monitors hunts for the League Against Cruel Sports, said intimidation tactics used were not unusual but the League had rarely monitored the VWH and said its members had not been breaking the hunting law.

But she said she was disappointed the case had been dealt with so leniently.

"It was very alarming and I think it's appalling that he tried to run me over," she said.

"I understand the police decided to caution him because he had not been in trouble with them before."

She added: "Some of these people seem to believe they are above the law. It can be very intimidating to monitor hunts and their behaviour does beg the question what have they got to hide?

"This is what the intimidation and harrassment is all about - stopping us getting any evidence of whether they are breaking the law of not.

"We will not give up monitoring them until we are satisfied they are genuinely hunting within the law and are no longer persecuting our wildlife."

The investigation was carried out by Thames Valley Police but officers refused to reveal the identity of the man who carried out the offences.

A spokesman said: "If she wants to make a complaint (about the caution) we would urge her to come forward to us."

Filed: 23rd February 2007