CONVICTED (2012) | Meynell and South Staffordshire hunt master John Edward Greenall, born July 1960 of Wootton Hall Estate, Wootton, Ellastone, Ashbourne DE6 2GW, and hunt field member Glen Morris, born c. 1969, of Ludgate Street, Tutbury, Burton-on-Trent DE13 9NG – illegally hunted fox cubs with hounds.
Greenall, son of the Baron of Daresbury, and hunt employee Morris were secretly filmed by anti-hunt protesters trying to kill foxes near Hilton in Staffordshire.
Both men denied breaching the Hunting Act but were both convicted.
Footage played in court showed members of the Meynell and South Staffordshire Hunt surrounding a wood at Suffield Farm in Sutton on the Hill in October 2011.
The hounds entered the wood to hunt young foxes in a sport known as ‘cubbing’.
One fleeing fox was scared back into the wood by the surrounding huntsmen who were clapping their hands.
Hunting foxes with dogs was made illegal in the 2004 Hunting Act.
Summing up, the judge said: “The evidence that Greenall was the hunt master is not in dispute nor is the fact that he was there that day.
“Greenall gave an innocent explanation as to why he was there in his police interview. But he has chosen not to give evidence in front of me.
“This is because the evidence would not stand up to any scrutiny.”
Tim Bonner, from the Countryside Alliance, was disappointed with the ruling. He said: “I am surprised at the verdict when there is no evidence in which foxes are shown to be pursued, let alone being caught by the hounds.”
Steve Harris, head of enforcement at The League Against Cruel Sports, said: “We are very pleased that Derbyshire Police thoroughly investigated this case and that the Crown Prosecution Service were willing to allow a court to decide on who was telling the truth.”
Sentencing | Greenall was fined £3,515 and Morris was ordered to pay £515.
Update October 2012
The not so honourable Johnny Greenall stepped down from his role as chairman of The Meynell & South Staffordshire Hunt, citing the court case as his reason.
Source: North West Hunt Saboteurs
Additional Information
Johnny Greenall owns the Duncombe Arms pub/restaurant in Main Road, Ellastone, Ashbourne DE6 2GZ with wife Laura Greenall.
Their son, former jockey Jack Greenall, owns the Pheasant Inn in Hungerford, Reading.
A very big Thank You to the Hunt Saboteurs.
Without your help and dedication this would not have been brought to Court.
We kindly ask the Public, Not To Use The Two Family Pubs Owed By This Family. Scum such as this, Do Not Deserve the custom and support of decent people. It is obvious what they have been up to all along, before they were caught out.