PARLIAMENTARY DEBATE – On Tuesday 1st of April, Perran Moon MP  secured a debate around the issue of illegal fox hunting. The debate was welcomed by the anti-hunting community as it included some useful suggestions, and a reassurance that the Government was looking at the issue. In winding up the debate Perrin Moon (MP) said, “In addition to those changes, we must extend the time available to charge in illegal hunting cases, reverse the burden of proof of compliance with exemptions, and make hunting a notifiable offence.” The Government spokesman would not provide a time line for a change in the law, but he confirmed that a consulation would be held later in the year.

GUILTY – Conall McGrath, 23, Andrew Osborne, 60, Freddie Osborne, 34 and George Pierce, 33, were captured on film hunting a fox with a pack of dogs at Pelsham Farm on 4 December 2023. On Wednesday 9th April, they were all found guilty of offences against the Hunting Act 2004. The men are all members of the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt.

CHARITY PARTNER BACKS OUT – St Margaret’s Hospice was named as a charity partner for the Cotley Hunt’s Point to Point event. However, once the hospice was informed about what the event was about, and the organisation behind it, St Margaret’s withdrew. On the day of the event, the Hunt cancelled, saying the ground was too hard. They cancelled just before the first race was due to run at 1.00pm. It was suspected that the real reason was that they did not have sufficient entries (there was only one entry for the first race) and the loss of their charity partner may have contributed.

HOUND OFFENCES – A trial date for a case against the three hound owners (Peter Jones, John Simpson, and David Woolley) from the Cheshire Hounds has been set for 08 Sept, with 12 May as a date to review the case. The three men will undergo a two-day trial at South Cheshire Magistrates Court in Crewe on September 8. Cheshire Rural Crime Team has been congratulated for their conduct on the day of the offence. This is the first trial of its kind. A Cheshire newspaper reported: “The future of trail hunting in England ‘could be at risk’ if three hunt owners are successfully prosecuted over animal welfare, a court has heard.”

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HOUNDS KILLED BY TRAIN – The Malvern Observer reports that in March, 3 hounds from the Croome and West Warwickshire Hunt were killed by a train near Worcestershire Parkway.

POLICE WARNING – Anthony Kirkham has been issued with a Section 51 Warning by Cheshire Police after he threw a firework at a car containing Hunt Monitors. He was out with the Cheshire Hunt, and the incident occurred on 01/03/25.

APPEAL DROPPED – The Portman Hunt have decided to drop their appeal against their conviction for cub hunting.

STAG HUNTING – Stag hunting and its barbarism is getting much more attention and public exposure. The hunters are now spring stag hunting which involves hunting a young and inexperienced stag to utter exhaustion. When it is too exhausted to go any further, they shoot it.  On 22/03/25, after killing a stag, the Devon and Somerset Staghounds Hunt members handed out ‘trophies’ such as organs, teeth, antlers, and feet. The remains were then thrown to the dogs as a reward, to the fanfare of the horn call for a kill. It is believed that they (Devon and Somerset Staghounds) are experiencing kennel cough.)

The Quantock Staghounds killed on Thursday 03/04/25.

The Devon and Somerset Staghounds killed on 05/04/25.

NOT GUILTY – The Oakley Hunt, now defunct, was found not guilty at St Albans Magistrates’ Court. In reporting the case, the Beds and Bucks Hunt Sabs are at pains to thank the Bedfordshire Police (and particularly PC Rob Mullen) for their robust and unbiased investigation.

GUILTY – Rob Parsons, the senior master from the Herefordshire and Clifton Hunt, has admitted guilt and accepted a caution for riding his horse at a sab. The offence was a Public Order Section 4 offence. He will have to bear the cost of £60 for a victim awareness course. The offence occurred at the Hunt’s opening meet in November 2024.

NOT GUILTY PLEA – Francis Webb, a regular rider with the Cheshire Hunt, pleaded not guilty to intentional strangulation of his partner at Warrington Magistrates’ Court. The alleged incident took place last summer. The trial is listed for 23rd June at Warrington Magistrates’ Court.

CONVICTED RAPIST – North London Hunt Sabs report that Richard Newman, who is a member of the Puckeridge and Essex Hunt and a candidate to become a master of the Thurlow Hunt next season, is a convicted rapist. Presumably he will have contact with minors.

GUILTY – Lincolnshire Police report that a farmer and gamekeeper, John Bryant, who used illegal traps and stored dangerous chemicals, has been found guilty of offences under the Wildlife and Countryside Act. He has been fined £2,112, costs of £4,492 and a victim surcharge of £845. Amongst other offences he had poisoned birds of prey.

WITNESS WITHDREW – Cheshire Monitors explained why a very strong case against the Wynnstay Hunt failed to obtain a guilty verdict. In brief, a witness did not wish to give evidence due to fear of the hunt and so some damning video footage was withdrawn at the last moment. Cheshire Monitors point out that ‘not guilty’ does not mean ‘innocent’, and the witness did experience intimidation.

GUILTY – Philippa Ward from the Albrighton and Woodland Hunt pleaded guilty to a charge of assault relating to an incident involving a hunt monitor. The huntsman, Paul Larby, pled ‘not guilty’ to the same charge, and the date for trial has been set for 30/10/25. Phillipa Ward will hear her sentence at the same trial. 

QUAD BIKE FATALITY – A further quad bike fatality for this year has come to light. A quad bike driver, Martyn Tucker, was killed in a quad bike accident in December 2024. It occurred whilst he was out with the Eggesford Hunt. Devon County Hunt Sabs state that despite this event, the Eggesford Hunt quad men are still behaving in the same way. 

DRONES – The Independent newspaper covered the attack on a sab drone by a hunt-controlled drone which had a weighted wire attached to it in order to ensnare the sab drone. Both drones crashed. Crashing drones are not under control and could have hit anything from a passing car to a mounted horseman.