QUICK NEWS
- Northumberland hunt caught digging out fox
- Forestry England trespass and hunt kill stag in Somerset
- bTb Parliamentary petition
- Dorset hare hunter due in court
- Leicester hunt thugs found guilty
- Scottish hunt folds
- Suffolk hunter found guilty
- Yorkshire Police drop horse cruelty case
- Twelve sab groups attend Devon stag hunt
- Shropshire hunter due in court
- Devon hunt kill fox
- Welsh hunters convicted for badger killing
- Sussex mink hunt disbands
- Sussex Boxing Day meet banned
- Essex hunter fails to attend court
- Durham hunter receives caution
TOP STORIES
DIG OUT VIDEO – From some considerable distance, Northumberland Hunt Watch caught the Tyndale Hunt digging out a fox which had taken refuge in an active badger sett. The video, which is distressing to watch, shows the killing of the fox in the presence of two children.
STAG KILL – Quantock Staghounds killed a young stag on Tue 22/04/25. Avon and Somerset Police continue to do nothing about this illegal hunting and criminal activity. The young stag entered Forestry England territory where hunting is not permitted but the ban is not enforced. The HSA and the Mendip HS are asking that we/you contact Forestry England via email at enquiries@forestryengland.uk, or via phone 0300 067 4000.
GUILTY – On 29/04/25, two men who operated on behalf of the Cottesmore Hunt, pleaded guilty to charges of common assault in Leicester Magistrates Court. Their chief protagonist, Andy Kean, received a two-year restraining order and was banned from approaching any of his victims on any public footpath or public space anywhere. Both men (Andy Kean and Barrington Nurse-Phillips) now have criminal convictions.
MORE STORIES
PETITION – The PtE petition concerning bTB, aimed at forcing a debate in Parliament, stands at 89,000(-ish). A debate is triggered at 100,000. If you have not signed this petition please consider doing so.
https://petition.parliament.uk/petitions/700317
COURT APPEARANCE – North Dorset Hunt Sabs report that a member of the Dorset and Somerset Bassets Hunt, (previously known as the Huckworthy Basset Hounds), has been charged with illegally hunting a hare on 13/10/24. Colin Tizzard is due to appear in court on Wednesday 21st May.
HUNT FOLDED – Another Scottish Hunt, the Dumfriesshire and Stewartry Hunt, has folded. It is the fourth of Scotland’s ten registered hunts to fold since the new Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 was introduced. Fife Foxhounds, the Lanark and Renfrewshire Hunt and the Liddesdale Hunt have all ceased operating. The other hunts are still struggling on.
SENTENCING – On Friday 11/04/25, South Suffolk Hunt Sabs report that, at Norwich Magistrates’ Court, Sam Staniland, previous hunstman for the Essex and Suffolk Hunt, received his sentence for animal abuse, cruelty and failing to ensure the welfare of his dogs. The judge described him as “sadistic” and “depraved” and he received the following sentence:
26 weeks imprisonment suspended for 18 months.
Disqualified from keeping dogs for five years.
150 hours community service.
£1,200 contribution to the RSPCA costs.
Victim surcharge costs of £180.
HORSE CRUELTY – The East Yorkshire Coast Hunt Sabs are disappointed by a decision by the North Yorkshire Police not to proceed with a case of cruelty and abuse of a horse. The captured footage of the mistreatment was taken by a drone in Aug ‘24, viewing the entrance to a farrier’s work area. The horse was punched and brought down to the floor by the actions of two men.
STAGS – With the fox hunting season over, about 12 Sab groups attended the sabbing of the Devon and Somerset Staghounds on 12/04/25. The hunt nonetheless managed a kill.
DUE IN COURT – Oliver Dale of the North Cotswold Hunt (and previously with the Ludlow Hunt), has been charged by Gloucestershire Police with fox hunting offences on 3 separate occasions: 12/10/24, 02/11/24, and 16/11/24. He is due in court on 14/05/25.
FOX KILL – Plymouth and West Devon Hunt Sabs report that, on 29/03/25, the Dartmoor Hunt killed a fox. The evidence of the killing is with the police.
CONVICTION – North Wales Hunt Sabs report that on 27/03/25 at Llanelli Magistrates’ Court, Sion Davis and Gwynli Edwards, supporters of the Llanwnnen Hunt, were handed 16-month suspended sentences after being found guilty of shooting a badger dead, dragging its body down a hill, and throwing it into a bog. Edwards was also given 240 hours community service, and together they were fined a further £4,960.
MINK HUNT DISBANDS – The Sussex based Wealden Minkhounds have disbanded.
BOXING DAY SUCCESS – AAF, (along with Grantham against Blood Sports), have had a success. The snappily named East Sussex & Romney Marsh Hunt and Southdown and Eridge Hunt (amalgamated) have been denied, by the town council, their Boxing Day parade in the town of Battle.
FAILURE TO ATTEND BAIL HEARING – The secretary of the Puckeridge and Essex Union Hunt, Andrew Perryment, is being sought by police after failing to attend a bail hearing in Norfolk. He had been caught drunk behind the wheel and without a driving licence.
POLICE CAUTION – Geordie Hunt Sabs report that Aaron Wilkinson from the South Durham Hunt, who had verbally abused them on 26/12/24, has received a police caution and has been instructed to stay away from hunt saboteurs.
