QUICK NEWS August 2026

• Trial date set for Gloucestershire hunt
• Trial date set for Nottinghamshire hunt
• Trial date adjournment for Suffolk hunt
• Case postponement against North Yorkshire hunt
• Trial postponement for Scottish hunt
• Case against Essex hunt discontinued
• Prosecution against (another) North Yorkshire hunt abandoned
• Further charges against Warwickshire hunt
• Second Community Protection Warning against Esses hunt
• Seven arrests in hare coursing incident
• Rutland hunt supporter displays temper
• Dogs from Welsh hunt sick
• AAF publishes new hunting dogs report 
• Cub hunting begins early and nationwide
• Stag hunts out despite bluetongue outbreak
• Dorset hunt with multiple convictions parades at local Show
• Otter and mink hunts sabbed
• Upcoming court cases

TOP STORIES
COURTS, CASES, CHARGES

The solicitor for Will Bryer, Mitch Prosser and Anthony Tuck from the Beaufort Hunt entered a ‘not guilty’ plea in their absence at Bristol Magistrates’ Court on 05/08/26. The case relates to the chase and kill of a fox on the Badmington Estate on 20/12/25.
Their trial is set for 21st, 22nd April 2027.

Sheffield Hunt Saboteurs report that Joshua Reynolds from the Grove and Rufford Hunt was in court on 10/08/26, charged with assault by beating and criminal damage. His trial is set for Feb 2027.
From the same Hunt, Jacob Whalley and Ste Reynolds face trial in November 2026 for interfering with a badger sett. (Whalley already has a conviction incurred whilst with the Fitzwilliam Hunt.)

Last season, the Grove kennelman, Nathan Charley, accepted a caution for assaulting a sab.

Suffolk Action for Wildlife report that huntsman, John Henty, formerly with the  Essex & Suffolk Hunt was due to stand trial at Ipswich Magistrates’ Court in relation to an allegation of assault by beating. Due to a previous case overrunning, his case has been adjourned until July 2027.

Henty is now with the Ludlow Hunt

Hull Wildlife Protectors report that a case against the Holderness Hunt has now been postponed until January 2027.

Matthew Wilkinson and Trevor Adams, joint masters of the Jedburgh Hunt, have had their trial postponed from August 2026 until October. They face six charges under the Hunting with Dogs (Scotland) Act 2023 relating to their activities at Ruecastle Farm on 27/02/26.

The case against Rhys Matcham from the Puckeridge and Essex Hunt regarding an incident which took place on 21 January 2026 has been discontinued due, apparently, to ‘insufficient evidence to secure a conviction’.

The North Yorkshire Police have abandoned prosecution against the Middleton Hunt, filmed chasing a fox in December 2025, ‘on the grounds of identification issues’.

As well as the charge against huntsman, William Goffe, and the Caution under The Public Order Act against former whipper-in, Jack Weedon, the Warwickshire Hunt’s former director and joint master, Olivia Forsyth, and hunt member, Harry Sawyer, have both been charged with separate incidents of Wilful Obstruction of the Highway.

The East Herts Hunt Saboteurs report that the Puckeridge and Essex Hunt was served with a 2nd Community Protection Warning (CPW) in June 2026. This is the result of East Herts Sabs submitting numerous bits of camera/drone footage and reports in regards to illegal hunting, trespass and badger sett interference between January and March 2026.  One incident is still under investigation.

HARE COURSING
Wiltshire Police responded to an incident on 25/04/26 involving three vehicles reportedly hare coursing across rural land near Ludgershall.
One of the vehicles was stopped following a pursuit on the A303 in Hampshire, while another was found abandoned – both of which contained dead hares, lurchers and equipment associated with poaching. 

Tommy Frankham, 21, of Sandy Lane, Bushey, Hertfordshire, has been charged with dangerous driving, driving without insurance, failing to stop for police and using a motor vehicle where the number of passengers carried is likely to cause danger.
He has been bailed to appear before Swindon Magistrates’ Court on August 26th. 

Seven people, including Frankham, were arrested and charged with being equipped for searching for or pursuing hares with dogs. They are due to appear at Salisbury Magistrates’ Court next month.

HUNT VIOLENCE
Northants Hunt Saboteurs report that, whilst they were informing attendees  of a child fun ride organised by the Cottesmore Hunt on 01/08/26 that the proceeds from such activities were used to finance fox hunting, a female hunt supporter first tried to steal a sab’s camera, and then tried to throttle him.

DOGS

The Cheshire Monitors report that dogs used by the Wynnstay Hunt are sick, which has necessitated two vet visits.

AAF has published its report into hunting dogs for season 2026-27.

CUB HUNTING
Cub hunting has begun earlier than usual, with Hunts seen out in counties all across England and Wales. The Cattistock Hunt was even seen out with a terrier on 10/08/26. Less than two weeks later, this reel of the same Hunt clearly shows cub hunting behaviour, filmed on 22/08/26.

 STAG HUNTS
Despite the significant outbreak of Bluetongue across North Devon and South Somerset, the Quantock Staghounds have not been able to resist hunting stag. On 10/08/26, they were filmed with eight dogs (four times the permissible amount) being ‘sent to grass’. They were out again on 20/08/26, when a stag was chased ‘for hours’; and on 24/08/26, when they subjected a stag to a “brutal four hour chase”.

Whilst it was thought that the Devon and Somerset Staghounds had resisted hunting during the outbreak, which is especially prevalent across Exmoor, it has been reported that the DSSH were out on 22/08/26 on ‘hound exercise’ – with circa 50 riders. That report is here, and does contain some strong language.

OTHER NEWS
Following “careful consideration by the Society”, the Gillingham and Shaftesbury Show again hosted a ‘Hound Parade’ this year. Absent last year, having been asked by the Show to stay away, the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt were this year back again, led out by George Pierce, who faces trial in April 2027. Pierce already has convictions for illegal hunting, ABH, and common assault. This Hunt has now tallied up 19 convictions in the past 3 years.
Other Foxhound packs present were the Wilton Hunt and the Portman Hunt.

As well as opposing the start of the grouse season, sabs groups have been busy keeping checks on otter and mink hunts. The Nottingham Hunt Saboteurs and West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs caught the Dove Valley Mink Hounds hunting on 15/08/26 in known otter habitat. They had children with them.

AND
…as we are all anticipating the ‘26-’27 season, below is a list of cases against hunts and their personnel coming up, from season ‘25-’26