On Monday 14th May, at Haywards Heath Magistrates Court, 3 Crawley & Horsham Hunt members were found guilty of 5 counts of illegal hunting. 2 were fined £1,000 each and must pay £2,500 each in costs. The third, Andrew Phillis is on holiday but must attend court later for his sentencing. Rachel Holdsworth was found guilty of 2 counts of illegal hunting (18th & 25th January) and fined £500 on each count, Neil Millard (joint master) was found guilty of one count of illegal hunting on 25th January and fine £1,000 and Andrew Phillis (ex huntsman) guilty of 2 counts of illegal hunting on 18th & 25th January but not guilty of illegal hunting on February 15th. On leaving court the hunt members refused to comment but Tim Bonner from the Countryside Alliance said that they thought the expert witness, Prof Harris, had got it wrong and that the hunt was trail hunting and the kill had been accidental.
During the trial, held over 7 days at Horsham Magistrates Court, prosecution witnesses had given evidence as to how the hunt had chased foxes with hounds on several occasions at 3 locations in Sussex as well as killing a fox. An independent witness who lived close to the woods where one incident took place had given evidence that she and her husband had been walking in the woods when they saw a fox closely followed by hounds and heard the horn blown by the huntsman. Professor harris, an expert witness, had also given evidence that, in his opinion a fox hunt rather than a trail hunt was taking place.
Earlier in January the hunt had made front page of the local Argus newspaper as well as a double middle page spread with yet another "accidental kill". How many so called 'accidents' can happen before the Hunting Act is tightened up?
The case taken against two Brighton hunt Saboteurs was dropped today.
Alastair Cannell of St Pauls Street, Brighton and Gavin Pidwell of London Road Brighton were charged with aggravated trespass while attending a meet of the old Surrey Burstow & West Kent fox hunt. The accusation from the police was the two has used citronella sprays to disrupt a lawful activity. No evidence was offered against Mr Pidwell and the police and CPS decided it was not in the public interest to proceed against Mr Cannell. On that day the hunt was clearly seen to be moving in front of its alleged trail layer and foxes were seen moving away from the hunt. It also transpired that the police approached the land owner only after the arrests had been made.
The two saboteurs were released with bail conditions stating that they were not to consort with any other hunt saboteurs, although the police then called a known hunt saboteur to pick them both up from the police station! These restrictions were later dropped.
On the same day the police impounded the Brighton hunt Saboteurs land rover claiming that the driver did not have the correct driver’s license to carry over 8 passengers. Surrey police have since admitted that this was incorrect and the driver and vehicle was being used legally. It has since been admitted that the vehicle did not need to be impounded and all costs refunded. It was the police's decision to impound the vehicle and to do so which could have left a number of hunt saboteurs stranded in the middle of the hunt, if other groups had not managed to transport them to safety.
The police also had a number of Forward Intelligence Team (FIT) police officers attending that day who only recorded by video the activities of the hunt saboteurs, regardless of the fact that they have been a number of extremely violent attacks on hunt saboteurs from this hunt over the years and whose huntsman, Mark Bycroft, has a conviction for assault on a hunt saboteur. This is also the hunt whose supporter Martin Maynard, ran over and nearly killed hunt saboteur Steve Christmas. Although the CPS discontinued the prosecution, Steve was awarded nearly £20,000 in compensation.
Lee Moon, spokesperson for the Hunt saboteurs Association stated: "Once again the Surrey Police and the CPS have shown that they still consider it their job to persecute hunt saboteurs and view them as the problem, when it is clear to all right thinking people that the prospective criminals morally and legally are the hunt and its supporters. If the police put as much effort into targeting the hunts as they do the hunt saboteurs, we would see many more convictions under the hunting act and the possible end of the flouting of this law, which is supported by the majority of the populace.
Until this day hunt saboteurs will take to the field and stop hunts from killing our native wildlife."
The Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA) has been fighting cruelty to animals since 1963 and relies entirely on the generosity of its members and supporters. We have no paid staff, so every penny donated to the HSA goes exactly where it really counts, the groups saving the lives of hunted animals in the field.
If you are kind enough to leave a gift to the Hunt Saboteurs Association in your will, you can help to ensure that the good work carried out by active sabs carries on.
If you pass on without making a will, your estate is divided according to 'intestacy rules'. This can take a long time and may mean that the people or organisations that you would have liked to have benefited do not receive anything, whilst the government receives a share of your estate.
Wills are legally binding documents which should be written with the help of a solicitor. Many law firms advertise this specialism in the Yellow Pages and online, or you can contact the law society on 020 7242 1222 for advice. If you already have a will, a bequest to the HSA can be added as a codicil.
If you choose to remember the HSA in your will, please let us know by contacting us.
TWO Cumbrian men have been found guilty by a Sheriff of deliberately hunting foxes and badgers on farmland near Langholm.
Ryan Lowe, 30, of Baird Road, Harraby, Carlisle, and 40-year-old Brian Sanderson, of West Lane, Shap, were also found guilty of being in possession of items capable of being used for an offence contrary to the Protection of Badgers Act.
They were found not guilty of approaching a badger sett with the dogs, disturbing entrances and causing a dog to enter the sett.
It followed a three-day trial during which the men had claimed they were only out for a walk with dogs at Effgill at Westerkirk last May.
‘You’re all fair game now!’ Hunters show true colours as attacks on hunt saboteurs escalate
The Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA) today called on the Countryside Alliance to reign in their supporters after violent attacks were launched on saboteurs in different parts of the country. Two saboteurs were attacked whilst attending a meet of the Crawley & Horsham Fox Hounds, who met at Ashington, West Sussex. One 17 year old saboteur was repeatedly head butted, and had to attend hospital for a suspected broken nose. Elsewhere in Derbyshire, a female hunt saboteur was attacked whilst attending a meet of the High Peak Hunt who met at Flagg, near Buxton. An ambulance was called by police already present, and the saboteur received 5 stitches to a head wound at hospital. Police have arrested one person on suspicion of assault.
A further incident came at a meet of the East Sussex and Romney Marsh Fox Hounds where saboteurs present reported a large influx of what were described as ‘hunt thugs’.
