Category Archives: Non-Abuse Cases

Dogs, hunting with dogs, hunts, Non-Abuse Cases

Houston, Renfrewshire: John Wright

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CONVICTED (2022) | John Bennet Wright, born 25 March 1989, of 17 Viking Crescent, Houston, Johnstone PA6 8LQ – battered a disabled foxhunt protestor.

Wright, who is associated with the Lanarkshire & Renfrewshire (L&R) Hunt, was caught on camera violently pulling Grant Sloan, who uses aids to walk, out of his vehicle and repeatedly kicking him.

The hunt thug lashed out when Mr Sloan was watching L&R hunt in Bridge of Weir in October 2020.

Mr Sloan was able to record the brutal attack on his phone and the footage shows Wright kicking him on the chest.

Prosecutor Amber Feeney told the court: “Around 3.30pm, Mr Sloan was in Bridge of Weir due to a fox hunt taking place and was parked at the side of the road in his vehicle alone.

“A short time later, three males approached, with one of them being the accused.

“One of the unknown males shouted at Mr Sloan to leave and he attempted to explain he was there not to cause any issue.

“At this point, the accused and another male opened the car door and pulled him out of the vehicle.

“Mr Sloan started to record this and the accused started to repeatedly kick Mr Sloan.

“Mr Sloan captured the accused kick him on the chest and the accused left with the two males. Police were contacted.

“Officers attended and system checks in relation to fox hunt nominals were carried out which identified the accused as the man in Mr Sloan’s video.”

Ms Feeney told the court that Mr Sloan was against fox hunting and was parked at the side of the road to observe if anything “untoward” took place, and it appeared that Wright was a “fan” of fox-hunting.

Defence agent Craig Broadley told the court Wright, who works for a local landscaping company “accepts” his behaviour.

Broadley added: “He doesn’t think he kicked the man particularly hard but he understands that doesn’t make a difference.

“He had been drinking with a friend fishing in the local area and when he was walking home he met the group.

“He does accept his actions and acting aggressively and that his behaviour was unacceptable.”

Sentencing Wright, Sheriff Eoin McGinty told him : “This was a particularly frightening incident for Mr Sloan as he was surrounded by a mob and manhandled from his car and thereafter you kicked him on the chest.”

The sentence was strongly welcomed by the Glasgow Hunt Sabs group – a group dedicated to protecting wild animals from hunters that Mr Sloan is a part of.

A spokesperson for the group told national newspaper the Express: “We are pleased with this outcome.

“John Wright is guilty of attacking not only a lone, but also disabled member of our group, who was dragged from his car as he monitored illegal hunting at the Lanarkshire & Renfrewshire Foxhounds.

“The brave actions of our sab, who managed to film part of the incident, certainly helped with the verdict.

“On the day in question, members of our group were subjected to violent threats constantly from hunt staff looking for fights. Before the attack took place, another of our vehicles had its tyres slashed.”

Glasgow Hunt Sabs continuously call for stronger fox-hunting laws to be introduced by the Scottish Government, the spokesperson added: “Those associated with the Lanarkshire & Renfrewshire Foxhounds continuously demonstrate why stronger, more meaningful fox hunting laws are needed.

“But until the Scottish Government brings its laws into line, we at Glasgow Hunt Sabs will not be deterred by cowardly acts of violence, and will continue to protect wildlife from the immeasurable cruelty in our countryside.”

Sentencing | 12-month supervision order with180 hours of unpaid work; £500 compensation to victim.

Daily Record
Glasgow Hunt Sabs’ FB post 23 August 2022

Additional Information

In March 2022 Wright was given a community sentence, fine and driving ban after being caught driving while six times over the legal limit of alcohol. He was also in possession of a locking knife without an excuse. Wright’s lawyer told the court how there is a “background of alcohol misuse and addition” adding that his client is attending Alcoholics Anonymous.

Oban Times (Pressreader link)

hunts, Non-Abuse Cases

Skeffington, Leicestershire: Mark Ferguson

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CONVICTED (2022) | Mark Marshall Ferguson, born November 1972, of 2 Vale Lodge, Rolleston Road, Skeffington LE7 9YD – attacked a hunt saboteur with a horse crop.

Fox hunter Mark Ferguson

Mark Ferguson, a director of the Woodland Pytchley Hunt, was found guilty of assault and criminal damage following a clash with Peterborough Hunt Sabs in October 2019.

The court heard that Ferguson grabbed a woman by the back of her collar before striking her on the head with his riding crop in a field near Clipston.

Mark Ferguson is caught on camera attacking a hunt saboteur. Image source: Peterborough Hunt Sabs

Ferguson pleaded not guilty to both offences but was convicted and ordered to pay fines and costs totalling £2,125.

Police confirmed the victim — who was in her 50s — suffered a cut head and bruising to her neck after Ferguson rode up behind her on his horse during an altercation between members of the Brixworth-based Pytchley Hunt and the group in October 2019.

She was also thrown backwards, causing her phone to smash.

Northamptonshire Police rural crime officer, PC Chloe Gillies, said: “I am pleased that Mark Ferguson was found guilty of these offences at court as this type of behaviour is unacceptable.

“Ferguson’s actions here could have had far more serious consequences and for the victim’s sake, I am pleased that they didn’t.

“There is never an excuse to assault someone and Northamptonshire Police will always pursue criminal action against any offender.”

Northampton Chronicle

Additional information

Mark Ferguson is a chartered surveyor with his own firm, Mark Ferguson Ltd.

Non-Abuse Cases, theft from animal charity

Bangor, County Down: Adrianne Peltz

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CONVICTED (2019) | Adrianne Susan Peltz (now Thompson), born 22 October 1984, of Beatrice Road, Bangor BT20 5DG – defrauded the Dogs Trust of nearly £5,500.

Thief Adrianne Peltz stole almost £5,500 from a charity for abandoned dogs
Thief Adrianne Peltz stole almost £5,500 from a charity for abandoned dogs

Peltz pleaded guilty to fraud by abuse of her position involving £5,393.22 at the Dogs Trust in a “breach of trust”.

The then 35-year-old, who is originally from South Africa, admitted using a Dogs Trust credit card for personal expenditures.

Thief Adrianne Peltz stole almost £5,500 from a charity for abandoned dogs

Peltz had been employed as the Dogs Trust’s campaigns manager for Northern Ireland and had a charity credit card for use in the day to day running of her office.

However, upon the termination of her contract, “numerous requests for receipts” to be produced by Peltz were not forthcoming.

Thief Adrianne Peltz stole almost £5,500 from a charity for abandoned dogs

It emerged that on dates between April and October 2017 a number of items totalling £5,392.22 could not be explained as “legitimate company business”.

Defence barrister Stephen Law said it was accepted that all money given to a charity is important and for anyone to misuse it would be “particularly mean-spirited”. He said Peltz had been going through a “particularly difficult time” when the offending happened.

Mr Law said she was “under considerable pressure at work” and was also “trying to juggle her caring and loving role as a mother” and was also a carer for her own mum.

Thief Adrianne Peltz stole almost £5,500 from a charity for abandoned dogs

In the evenings when “under stress” Peltz had “strayed beyond” what the credit card was intended for and made a number of “online” purchases.

Mr Law said it “really has been a classic fall from grace” for Peltz, who had been industrious and occupied a number of important public roles which had now “all come crashing down”, and with it she had lost her reputation.

Following the guilty plea he said the defendant resigned from a number of groups but he said a “glimmer of hope” was that she recently married and her husband was with her in court.

Mr Law said the defendant was unemployed and was not claiming any benefits but “living on the goodwill” of her husband.

Thief Adrianne Peltz stole almost £5,500 from a charity for abandoned dogs

The defence barrister said there was no question that Peltz felt ashamed for her “inexcusable” actions and she may have to move from her current address because she has been “shunned” by the community.

He said although every pound given to a charity is important, the Dogs Trust was a UK-wide organisation and the loss of £5,000 may not have a “significant impact” on them.

Mr Law said it had been a “life-changing experience” for Peltz who is going to “pick herself up, get a job and pay this money back”.

District Judge Nigel Broderick said the offending was “mean-spirited” which involved a “breach of trust” with a charity to which the public had given money in good faith.

He said he read a Victim Impact Statement from the Dogs Trust and the incident had a “traumatic effect” on staff.

The judge said he took into account a guilty plea and said it was not without significance that Peltz lost her job and other employment and there had been an “element of public shame which is attached to such a high profile loss of face”.

He handed down a six-month jail term, suspended for two years, and ordered the defendant to pay back the amount of money involved.

Outside the court the defendant replied “no comment, thank you” as she passed reporters.

Following the sentencing hearing, a Dogs Trust spokesperson said: “We rely on the enormous generosity of the public to help us care for over 15,000 dogs every year and we do all we can to ensure funds are used wisely.

“This was a rare situation for us and we took appropriate steps at the time to recover the funds where we could, but what’s important is that following today’s hearing more of the money will be returned to us and put back into the vital work that we do.

“We would like to thank the police for their prompt assistance in this matter. We respect the decision of the court and are pleased to draw this issue to a close.”

Sentencing | six months in jail suspended for two years. Ordered to repay the money she stole from the animal charity.

Belfast Telegraph
BBC News