Police, Court and Prosecutions

On 02/10/23, John Partridge from the Grove and Rufford Hunt was convicted at Nottingham Magistrates’ Court of criminal damage. With two colleagues, he slashed the tyres of a sab vehicle. He admitted to the criminal damage, but he denied carrying a blade. We presume that made sense to him. Perhaps he will avoid being charged over the more serious offence by admitting to the lesser one. He will be sentenced on Friday 20th October.

Last week we pointed out that the lack of interest by the Dorset Police was “nothing less than disgraceful”. This week, Members of the North Dorset Hunt Sabs and Weymouth Animal Rights (WAR) were targeted by the thugs from the local Hunt. On Thursday (5th Oct) they had tyres on their vehicles slashed and several of their vehicle windows smashed. (Photograph of the damage caused are available on the North Dorset Hunt Sabs Facebook page.)

A terrierman from the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt (BSV), Steve Paul, who in November ‘22 sprayed urine into the face of a female sab, has finally pleaded guilty to assault. He has been ordered to carry out 80 hours of community service, pay £150 compensation, and CPS/victim support costs. He had come out having equipped himself with his own urine in a spray bottle. It is difficult to find words to describe some of the people that sabs and monitors have to deal with.

At Blackpool’s Magistrates’ Court on 21/09/23, Brandon Lawler pleaded guilty to conduct contrary to the Protection of Badgers Act 1991. The evidence was on his own mobile phone. His fellow defendant, Carl Harwood, received a 16 week prison sentence suspended for 12 months.

A 7-force Community Protection Notice was issued against hare coursers in and around East Anglia. Fox hunts cause similar disturbances, and we would like to see more CPNs issued against them.

SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification): It has been pointed out by a very astute observer that it is no good reporting untaxed vehicles to the police. SORN responsibilities lie with the DVLA. It is they that should be informed of untaxed vehicles that are being used on public highways.

Sutton-on-the-Hill lies to the west of Derby and, on Sunday (15th), the Dove Valley Mink Hounds packed up after Police, who had been alerted by locals, turned up.

A former jockey was jailed for eight weeks for badger baiting offences.

With the new Scottish legislation finally in place, the Scottish Border Hunt Sabs report that the Berwickshire Hunt did indeed lay a trail, and attempted to follow it. Trail hunting, though, is illegal in Scotland.

Hunt Atrocities

The Scottish Border Hunt Sabs report that  the Jedburgh Hunt is engaging in many dig outs. Compliance with the law is yet to arrive.

Norfolk/Suffolk Hunt Sabs report the Waveney Harriers hound wagon is untaxed. They have a nice photograph of it on their Facebook page. This vehicle should be referred to the DVLA.

On Saturday (14th) Lord Mancroft was out with the Beaufort Hunt who were fox hunting.

Mendip Hunt Sabs report that Mrs. Rees-Mogg was out with the Mendip Farmers Hunt again on Sat 7th Oct.

Last week, the Thurlow Hunt went home and completely forgot to take one of their hounds with them.  You’d have thought they’d notice. A farrier spotter her IN THE ROAD, and called the hunt.

The Wight Hunt Sabs report that the Isle of Wight Hunt twice spooked non-hunt riders on their horses, and on one of those occasions the horse threw the rider and the horse ran off down the road. The lady who was thrown was shaken and bruised, but otherwise okay. The horse made its own way back home. Wight Hunt Sabs also report that the Hunt cancelled after just 36 minutes as two riders in separate incidents had come off their horses due to the very slippery conditions. The horses were not hurt.

The Hunt Sabs Association has highlighted how beagle packs have been visiting Scotland and the border regions in order to hunt hares. Although now illegal in Scotland, it probably won’t put a stop to the practice as some of the estates that they hunt on are quite remote.

We recently reported that the Llandeilo Farmers Hunt folded. They have re-emerged as a Hunt Club. A “hunt club” does not have its own hounds (unlike a hunt) and invites other hunts to join them in their hunting country.

Stag Hunting

Action Against Staghunting are examining the legal review of stag hunting provided by Advocates for Animals (and very kindly paid for by the Crowd Funder). There is a great deal to digest, and the direct action contingent of AAS will be working on new strategies to catch the stag hunts at it, and take them to court.
The Quantock Stag Hounds chased and killed a large stag on 16^th October. They had been aiming for him for a while because of his fine antlers. It was clear trophy hunting. The antlers will be displayed on someone’s wall soon, once the poor creature’s head has been to the taxidermist. They will already have eaten some of his body.