Hunt Supporters Plead Guilty to Affray
Hunt Saboteurs Association News Release 5th October 2016
Three supporters of the Colne Valley Beagles Hunt have pleaded guilty to Affray after an attack on hunt saboteurs on Boxing Day 2014. The hunt met at the Jack O Mitre pub in Scammonden, West Yorkshire for their traditional Boxing Day meet. Supporters of the hunt attacked the sab vehicle with baseball bats, dragged several members of the group from the vehicle and punched and kicked them repeatedly.
Yesterday, three of the perpetrators pleaded guilty to Affray and were charged as follows: Danny O'Brien sentenced to 120 hours Community Service Charles Walker sentenced to 80 hours Community Service. Gareth Nicholson sentenced to 60 hours Community Service.
Lee Moon, spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated: "Whilst we are pleased that the attackers have admitted their crimes and will have to carry out community service this is a disappointing light sentence. Affray is a serious charge and this was a premeditated and vicious attack which would ordinarily have resulted in a prison sentence. Two of the main instigators of the attack are still unidentified and we hope West Yorkshire Police continue to look for these individuals. The police are still looking for the main attacker, pictured to the right of the photo above. If you have any information about the identity of this person, please contact West Yorkshire police on 101."
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Fitzwilliam Hunt in Court on Illegal Hunting Charges
Hunt Saboteurs Association News Release 31st August 2016
George Adams (retired) huntsman of the Fitzwilliam Hunt along with Bird of Prey Handler John Mease appeared before Peterborough Magistrates court today. They pleaded not guilty to charges in relation to the hunting act following the death of a fox on Jan 1st 2016. John Mease is also facing cruelty charges from an incident 2 years ago involving a Golden Eagle and a fox. The defence attempted to get the expert witness statement from Professor Stephen Harris removed by questioning his character, however the judge told the defence in no uncertain terms that his evidence cannot be removed purely on hearsay.
The Hunting Act case will be heard on the 5th December and the cruelty case on the 8th, both at Peterborough Magistrates Court.
The video evidence for this prosecution was supplied by Beds and Bucks Hunt Saboteurs with witness statements from both Beds and Bucks and South Cambs Hunt saboteurs.
Lee Moon, Spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated: “We are pleased that this case is progressing and that both the CPS and Cambridgeshire Police have been willing to act on evidence gathered by hunt saboteurs. George Adams may have retired but justice should still be served and the Fitzwilliam need to learn that despite their wealth and connections they are not above the law.”
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The Pytchley Hunt go to desperate lengths to Kill
Hunt Saboteurs Association News Release 25th July 2016
Our third compilation of undercover footage shows the Pytchley Hunt bolting a fox with a terrier to be chased by the hounds.
The footage starts with the hunt having chased a fox underground. The terrier men send a terrier down after it to flush it out. Once the fox is above ground and running, the huntsman puts the hounds back on the scent and they continue to chase it. Every single action in that sequence is illegal.
In the second half of the video, a fox has taken refuge in a pile of farmyard junk after being chased by the hounds. Various members of the hunt try to extricate the fox, including the huntsman and whipper-in. Fortunately this fox escapes despite the hunt's best attempts to kill it.
Lee Moon, spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, said: 'This footage shows both the huntsman and the whipper-in of the Pytchley breaking the law. They are both employees of the hunt and would only behave in such a way with the express permission of the Masters and the hunt committee. The Countryside Alliance always claim it is rogue elements who break the law, but this footage clearly shows it is officially sanctioned behaviour.
We are pleased that the Pytchley Hunt were forced to pull out of Countryfile Live due to their illegal activities. We also look forward to hearing that Maidwell Hall School will no longer host them. There can be no place for hunting in a school.
Why have the Countryside Alliance and the Masters of Foxhounds Association not condemned these atrocities and announced an independent enquiry, as they have done in the recent South Herefordshire case? Until this happens, the whole hunting community is complicit in these acts.
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