Police ‘furious’ that a member of the House of Lords was not prosecuted over fox hunting video

20th October 2021 Police officers behind the conviction of a leading figure in the fox hunting lobby have told i they are “furious” that a member of the House of Lords was not prosecuted. Lord Mancroft, one of 92 hereditary peers who remain in the upper house, was one of six leading hunting figures who …

Great picture – GUILTY

Thanks to the League Against Cruel Sports for the photo

Mark Hankinson: Top huntsman guilty of encouraging illegal fox hunting

15th October 2021 A senior fox hunter has been found guilty of encouraging and assisting people to evade the ban on fox hunting. Recordings of Mark Hankinson, a director of the Master of Foxhounds Association, speaking to around 100 senior hunters in two private webinars in August 2020 were leaked online. The prosecution argued he …

F***ing great news

15th October 2021 FOUND GUILTY! Mark Hankinson has been found guilty of encouraging or assisting others to commit offences under the hunting act following his trial at Westminster magistrates court. The trial came about after the HSA exposed leaked hunting office webinars in 2020.

Foxhound body director ‘encouraged’ illegal fox hunts, court hears

Prosecution says Mark Hankinson gave advice on how to use trail hunting as a ‘smokescreen’. 20th September 2021 The director of the body representing foxhound packs encouraged members to use trail hunting, where horseback riders with dogs follow trails laid with scent in advance, as a “smokescreen” for illegal foxhunting, a court has heard. Mark …

Quorn Hunt members cleared of breaching fox-hunting ban

25th August 2021 Two hunt members who were accused of encouraging hounds to look for a fox have been cleared of a hunting offence. Huntsman John Finnegan and whipper-in Rhys Matcham from the Quorn Hunt were on trial for breaching the 2004 Hunting Act in Leicestershire last year. The pair claimed the hunt on 4 …

Huntsman and whipper-in accused of ‘charade’ to flout fox hunting ban

24th August 2021 A huntsman and a whipper-in actively encouraged hounds to look for a fox after a trail hunt was set up as a charade, a court has heard. Prosecutors allege that huntsman John Oliver Finnegan, 36, and 30-year-old whipper-in Rhys Matcham breached the 2004 Hunting Act in Leicestershire on February 4 last year. …

WTF???? part 7

Video evidence of foxhunt not enough to prosecute, say police Exclusive: Officers drop case after ‘refusing to take statements from witnesses because they are not independent’ 28th May 2021 Police have said they will not bring charges over allegations of illegal hunting, even though they have been shown video of riders and hounds in pursuit …

Fox hunting: Ex-master of Jedforest Hunt cleared in court

3rd May 2021 A FORMER master of the Jedforest Hunt in the Borders has been cleared of breaking Scotland's fox-hunting law. Countryside campaigners welcomed the verdict while there have been fresh calls for a strengthening of the legislation after yet another case was thrown out of court. Police Scotland and the Crown felt there was …

Game shooter defends fieldsports after cat and fox found near snares at Bolton Abbey

26th February 2021 A KEEN fieldsports man who has been visiting the Bolton Abbey Estate for 35 years, has defended the shooting fraternity after a runner on the moor came across a dead cat and fox near snares and what appeared to be a ‘stink pit’ on the estate. The runner informed the police who …