CONVICTED (2024) | Thomas Ledbury, born c. 1985, of Pine Close, Corsham SN13 0LB – part of a group of huntsmen that threw a live fox to a pack of hounds.
Tom Ledbury was captured on video watching another person remove a terrified fox from his den before throwing the animal to a pack of hunting dogs.
Ledbury, who was employed by the now defunct Avon Vale Hunt as a terrierman, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting another to commit an offence, namely unnecessary suffering to a fox.
Video footage obtained by hunt saboteurs showed Ledbury supervising hunt members as they throw a live fox to a pack of baying hounds in an incident near Melksham on December 24, 2020.
The video shows the fox being bitten on its right hind upper leg and upper neck as it is launched into the pack.
Ledbury is shown looking on as the horrifically cruel incident takes place.
An expert witness told the court there was no doubt that the fox was alive when he was pulled from the hole. He added that the poor creature would have experienced severe fear and extreme pain whilst being torn apart by the hounds. It would have eventually lost consciousness and died.
Two other men – namely Oliver Thompson of Faringdon, Oxfordshire and then Avon Vale Hunt Master Stuart Radbourne, a serial wildlife persecutor from Chippenham, Wiltshire, were convicted in relation to the same incident.
Stuart Radbourne (left) and Oliver Thompson
Thompson was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a fox following trial and sentenced to a 20-week suspended prison sentence. Radbourne received a suspended 18-week custodial sentence.
Image credit: Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs
A fourth man named Charlie Ball was also present and initially prosecuted. Unfortunately, the status of the prosecution against him isn’t currently known.
Charlie Ball (standing) pictured with Tom Ledbury. Photo credit: Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs – Twitter
A fifth hunt member identified by Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs as Rob Shearring was shown in the video with a spade and “assisting with the illegal kill”. It is unclear why charges have not been brought against Shearring given his clear involvement.
The Avon Vale Hunt was disbanded in February 2023 after it was removed from the sport’s governing body following the leaking of a video showing two foxes being dug out of the earth and thrown to waiting hounds on December 20, 2022.
Chief Inspector Will Mitchell, from the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit which led the investigation, named Operation Aurora, said: “As part of a larger investigation the video footage was identified from a seized mobile phone.
“This shocking hunt video shows the lack of compassion and empathy for this fox who is thrown to a pack of baying hounds to be ripped apart. It’s really worrying to think anyone may find treating an animal this way fun.”
Sentencing | 12-month community order with a requirement to undertake 240 hours of unpaid work.
Ledbury runs a business called Tom Ledbury Maintenance and Installations. He currently holds a contract with Bath and North East Somerset Council to repair and maintain street furniture and park infrastructure.
CONVICTED (2023) | father and son wildlife persecutors Robert Mills, born c. 1956, and Jack Mills, born c. 2001, both of Little Orchard, Exted, Elham, Canterbury CT4 6YG – used superglue to patch up the wounds of a dog forced to fight a fox.
Jack Mills (left), his father Robert Mills (centre) and an as yet unidentified Kent Hounds terrierman. Photo credit: West Kent Hunt Sabs
Robert and Jack Mills, who are believed to be terriermen with the Kent Hounds, used the strong commercial adhesive in a botched DIY effort to put the Patterdale terrier’s lip back together after she was maimed during the illegal chase.
The terrier, known as Fudge, was one of two dogs discovered with shocking injuries at the pair’s family home in Elham, near Canterbury.
The other, a lurcher called Rose, had extensive scars across her face, a large part of her tongue missing and she had a weeping nailbed on one of her paws.
Photo credit: Kent Online. Robert Mills is pictured outside court (left)
The Mills had allowed the animals to suffer without seeking proper treatment for their injuries.
Incriminating messages – including a photo of a smiling Jack Mills posing with a dead fox – were found during examinations of their mobile photos.
In court, both men pleaded to two counts of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
The court was told police executed a warrant at their home on January 18, 2023, as part of an RSPCA investigation known as Operation Aurora.
In a statement provided to the court, RSPCA special operations officer Jason Bowles, said: “Rose from kennel A had a large part of the skin around her lower jaw missing and part of her tongue. Her feet were discoloured. She had extensive scarring to her face and muzzle.
“Fudge from kennel A had part of her lower jaw in an unusual state in that it looked to have been injured in the past and had healed in an odd shape and she had scarring to the muzzle.
“There was a strong smell of ammonia in the building but I took into consideration that this was early in the morning, possibly before an early morning routine had been executed.
“Bedding was inadequate in all kennels in that they did have hard beds but only remnants of straw in some.
“Water bowls were present but at least one kennel only had remnants of water. Bowls could easily be knocked over and spills take place. Empty bowls were refilled.”
Of the five dogs kept in kennels in the outbuilding, two of them – Rose and Fudge – were seized.
The court was shown messages discussing how Robert and Jack Mills had used glue to try to repair degloved tissue on a dog’s lip after she had been injured by a fox. No pain relief had been sought
Recounting the notes of an expert veterinarian who examined the animals, prosecutor Janet Patel told magistrates: “There was damage to the skin of Rose’s lower jaw with the site of a deep tear or cut visible on the lower jaw and a loss of the lip margin contiguity.
“A significant amount of the tongue had been lost in a surgical or traumatic incident. The lesions are consistent with those that could be received in a fight between this dog and a large mammal such as a dog, fox, or badger.”
The vet added that a nail was missing on Rose’s left paw, oozing fluid and causing clear pain to the dog.
Fudge was found to have suffered significant damage to his face and head, and was missing a number of front teeth.
“The person caring for Fudge cut off some tissue, used commercial superglue to try and repair degloved tissue on her face and did not administer any pain medication,” the prosecutor added.
Messages shared between Robert and Jack Mills – both bricklayers by trade – described the dogs being used to hunt foxes.
Records from their phones indicated Fudge was caused harm in November 2021.
The vet added: “The entries, dated 16.11.2021, lead me to believe that Fudge was involved in a fight with a mammal such as a fox, large dog, or badger.
“The use of the word ‘hangin’ implies the lower jaw has been degloved to some extent, leaving the tissue literally hanging. There are two more statements. Firstly, that super glue has been used to try and put it back together and secondly that some of the flesh has been cut away.” This referred to a message, containing a typo, which said: “I just cut a bit of.”
Fudge had significant facial injuries and was missing several front teeth
The vet continued: “To advise the court in this matter I am forming my opinion on the basis that the person caring for Fudge cut off some tissue, used commercial super glue to try and repair the degloved tissue and did not administer any medication.”
Another mobile phone message discovered by officers read: “Had any joy with the fox?”
A picture of a dead fox was also shared with the words: “Went out this morning, Fudge killed it.”
Rose had a swollen toe with a nail missing. The vet that examined her said she vocalised her pain during examination
Ms Patel added: “That is the language of both Jack and Robert tracking and killing foxes, and it is not them flushing a fox out so that it can be killed humanely with a pistol.
“Both Jack and Robert Mills have shown deliberate disregard for the welfare of animals by placing them in situations where they sustained these horrific injuries.”
When questioned by police, Robert said that the dogs’ facial injuries had occurred when Rose and Fudge encountered a badger in the garden and that both dogs had been attacked by a rabbit.
But his son contradicted that claim in an interview, saying that neither dog had ever come across a badger.
Mitigating, solicitor Sam Harkness told the bench both men were remorseful.
“Mr Mills says he has owned dogs all his life. He deeply regrets his actions and Mr Mills Junior says this is a steep learning curve,” said Mr Harkness.
“They are both devastated that they have been involved in these proceedings, but they have cooperated.”
The charges related specifically to Fudge’s facial injury and the wound to Rose’s foot, which was sustained in the days before the police visit in January 2023.
During a discussion about the prospect of both defendants being banned from keeping any animals, the pair were seen intensely shaking their heads.
Sentencing the pair, chairwoman of the bench Patricia Light told them they had “broken the custody threshold because there is more than one dog with deliberate suffering,”
She added: “The fact that you have access to a vet and financial means to pay for treatment and yet still did not seek treatment shows deliberate disregard for the welfare of the animals.”
She continued: “We are also granting a deprivation order for Fudge and Rose and the RSPCA will seize your other dogs.
“We are also granting a disqualification order for both of you in relation to owning, keeping, or participating in controlling or transporting any animals for five years, no application may be made to appeal this for two years.”
Rose and Fudge, who have remained with the RSPCA since January 2023, can now be rehomed.
The Mills’ other three dogs will be seized within 14 days, with magistrates also giving them two weeks to rehome a number of chickens and ferrets.
Sentencing | 23-week custodial, suspended for two years; 150 hours of unpaid work; £500 costs and £154 surcharge each. Five year ban in relation to all animals, but can appeal after two years (expires December 2028).
CONVICTED | huntsman Oliver Thompson, 32, of 4 Old Berks Hunt Kennels, Little Coxwell, Faringdon SN7 8ES – baited a petrified fox cub with a dog while his wife Felicity Thompson, aka Felicity Hook, filmed events.
Huntsman Oliver Thompson was filmed training a terrier to attack a fox
Thompson, formerly of the Old Berkshire Hunt, was filmed removing a young fox from a trap and repeatedly putting her in close proximity to a terrier named Nelly in July 2020.
The video – filmed near Melksham, Wiltshire – was leaked and the RSPCA successfully prosecuted the defendant Oliver Thompson for causing unnecessary suffering to an animal.
Thompson pleaded guilty to the offence at Swindon Magistrates’ Court, and appeared for sentencing on Monday 11 December.
He also admitted second charge of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal – which involved throwing a fox to a pack of hounds on Christmas Eve 2020.
Magistrates described his offending as “sadistic behaviour” in which he had a “leading role”.
Thompson’s wife Felicity Thompson aka Felicity Hook had the case against her dismissed after the prosecution offered no evidence.
Felicity Thompson, whose voice is heard on the video, was also charged. However, prosecutors offered no evidence and the case against her was dismissed.
After the footage was leaked, the British Hound Sports Association said it had suspended Oliver Thompson pending further investigation. but he subsequently resigned from the Old Berkshire Hunt.
A spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association said that it was “no surprise for us to learn about the latest incident of animal cruelty”.
They added: “These two new offences pre-date, but are in addition to the recent court case of Stuart Radbourne and whipper-in Aaron Fookes who were also sentenced Hunting Act and Animal Welfare Act offences, when they also threw a fox to the hounds in Brokerswood in December 2022.
“Hunt Saboteurs are out in the fields, week in week out and witness the cruelty at every hunt we attend. The next government must act and close down the smokescreen of trail hunting for good.”
Sentencing | 20-week prison sentence suspended for two years; 300 hours of unpaid work; costs of £2,500. No dog ban was imposed but the court ordered Thompson to hand Nelly the terrier over to the RSPCA. It’s not known if she will be re-homed or put to sleep.
CONVICTED (2023) ex-Wynnstay Hunt employee Christopher J Woodward, born 20 November 1984, previously of Ruabon, Wrexham, but now of Huntsman House, The Kennels, South Lawn, Swinbrook, Burford OX18 4FH – caught interfering with a badger sett.
Christopher Woodward is now employed by the Heythrop Hunt
On 3 February 2023, huntsman Christopher Woodward and a second Wynnstay Hunt employee identified as whipper-in Charlie Young were caught red-handed blocking the badger sett near Whitchurch, North Wales, in preparation for the following day’s hunting in the area.
Hunt saboteurs confronted the pair, who fled the scene. .
North Wales Police launched an investigation which led to the prosecution of Woodward, who is now employed by the Heythrop Hunt, based in Banbury, West Oxfordshire,
According to the Hunt Saboteurs Association (HSA) Woodward and Young were caught three weeks earlier blocking the same badger sett.
The purpose of this cruel practice, which can cause badgers to suffocate, is to force foxes above ground so that they can be illegally hunted.
Woodward’s alleged accomplice Charlie Young. It’s not known if he also faced charges
Following Woodward’s conviction an HSA spokesperson said: “The blocking of badger setts is routine practice by fox hunts across the country.
“Not only is such behaviour illegal under the Protection of Badgers Act 1992, it provides obvious evidence of the intent to/commit offences under the Hunting Act.
“The fact that this seedy pair were caught on film at the same badger sett only weeks earlier beggars belief and provides further compelling evidence of the habitual nature of such offences.”
Woodward is due to appear in court again in October 2023 to face charges in relation to breaches of the Hunting Act.
Sentencing | £500 fine plus £200 victim surcharge and £85 costs. The fine takes into account his guilty plea and income and is to be paid within 28 days.
CONVICTED (2022) | former Quorn huntsman John Oliver Finnegan known as Ollie Finnegan, born 13 August 1985, previously of the Quorn Hunt Kennels, Gaddesby Lane, Melton Mowbray LE14 2TQ but more recently of Kennel Lane, Northwich – for illegal hunting with dogs.
Ollie Finnegan was convicted of breaching the Hunting Act after dozens of incriminatory WhatsApp messages were found on his phone
Finnegan, who is now huntsman of the Cheshire Hunt based in Sandiway, Northwich, was seen fox hunting on 7 January 2022. He was caught during a joint meet near Hartpury between Leicestershire’s Quorn Hunt and the Ledbury Hunt, which is based in Gloucestershire.
The meet came less than a fortnight after Ledbury joint hunt master David Redvers said his hunt was committed to trail hunting, which is legal.
Finnegan is now a huntsman with the Cheshire Hunt.
Key evidence was found on Finnegan’s phone after it was seized by officers from Leicestershire Police.
WhatsApp messages on the day show communication about illegal fox-hunting with an unnamed huntsman.
He asked Finnegan: “How’d you get on at Ledbury today?”
Finnegan replies “Only found a brace [of foxes]. First one went to ground, The second went 5 fields to a real thick cover which we weren’t aloud in and had to stop [the hounds].”
The huntsman replies: “used to be full of them round there! Had my best days around there.”
On another occasion the Master says “How did this evening go?” to which Finnegan replied “Found 2 brace [foxes] seen another 2 brace, very busy all night. Hounds hunted well considering the heat.”
Dozens of messages and videos were found on Finnegan’s phone, but only a tiny minority were shared with the court.
Following the conviction, a spokesperson for the British Hound Sports Association (BHSA) said: “We can confirm that a current member of the BHSA has today pleaded guilty to illegal hunting on 7th January 2022, near Hartbury, Glos.
“This organisation does not condone illegal activity and the matter has been referred to the Hound Sports Regulatory Authority (HSRA) which is the regulatory body responsible for disciplinary matters.”
Finnegan with wife Rachel Finnegan, who hunts in her own right, and their two boys
Speaking about the case, Lynn Sawyer of Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs, said : “Three counties sabs are pleased that the Hunting Act has been enforced in this case.
“Along with Herefordshire hunt sabs we attended the joint Quorn/Ledbury meet to protect foxes and we will continue to sab fox hunts until they stop harming wildlife.”
The allegations related to an incident in Breedon on the Hill, North West Leicestershire, on February 4, 2020.
Both defendants pleaded not guilty and faced trial in August 2021.
Matcham and Finnegan pictured during their court appearance in August 2021
Shockingly they were found not guilty after the Crown Prosecution Service accepted the case had no reasonable prospect of conviction.
The Crown had claimed footage filmed by the League Against Cruel Sports showed ‘a proper fox hunt going back to the olden days’.
But the first witness in the case, the League’s staff member Roger Swaine, told the court on Tuesday that he could not see where Matcham was looking when a fox was seen to emerge from a covert.
Defence lawyer Stephen Welford then asked Mr Swaine: “It’s perfectly reasonable to suggest that hounds were in that bit of covert, they had found an artificial trail…and a fox popped out. That is one possibility, is it not?”
Mr Swaine answered: “Yes.”
Explaining the Crown’s decision to drop the case, before Finnegan and Matcham had given evidence, prosecutor Mark Fielding said: “The Crown Prosecution Service have a duty to review the prospects of success of a matter at all times, up to and including the end of the case.
“Suffice to say, having listened to Mr Swaine giving clearly honest and truthful evidence in cross-examination, for which he is to be commended, my impression, which I communicated to the reviewing lawyer, was that this case no longer had a reasonable prospect of success.”
Immediately after Mr Fielding’s comments, the chair of the three-strong magistrates’ bench entered not guilty verdicts on both defendants.
Martin Sims, director of investigations at the League Against Cruel Sports, said: “We’re understandably disappointed with this result but we stand by the evidence we presented, which clearly shows hounds hunting a fox.
“While there are questions that need to be answered about the prosecution’s approach, it’s yet further confirmation that the Hunting Act needs to be strengthened so that it does what it’s supposed to – preventing foxes being chased by hounds.”
He and co-accused Matthew Ramsden, 35, pleaded not guilty.
Prosecutor Natalie Cheeseman alleged the defendants allowed a pack of hounds to chase a fox in Brokenborough, Malmesbury, at about 8.30am on 13 September 2021.
She said the prime evidence, in the form of video footage, was provided by a member of Cirencester Illegal Hunt Watch.
Ms Cheeseman alleged that Matcham and Ramsden were “knowingly engaged in hunting a fox” and did nothing to stop the hounds from pursuing the fox.
She added: “No one appears to do anything to stop the hounds chasing fox”.
Daniel Gill, defending, said his clients both deny hunting whilst legally following a trail and that they “did everything they could” to stop the hounds from pursuing the fox.
The trial will be heard at Swindon Magistrates’ Court later in 2022, but legal advisor Juen Batchelor said a date cannot be fixed until expert witnesses have confirmed their availability.
Matcham, of Kennel Drive, Badminton, and Ramsden, of High Street, Badminton, were remanded on unconditional bail.
Update | August 2023
Finnegan, most recently employed by the Cheshire Hunt, was found guilty of two counts of illegal hunting. He was convicted in his absence after he failed to attend court for a third time.
Finnegan was fined the maximum amount – £1000 – for each of the two offenses and must pay court costs. He was also given a two-year Criminal Behaviour Order including one sanction stating that he cannot hunt with more than 10 hounds.
The Hunt Saboteurs report that Finnegan has now moved to Ireland where foxhunting is legal.
CONVICTED (2022) | Hunt master Daniel James Cherriman, born June 1985, of Eaton Mascott, Cross Houses, Shrewsbury SY5 6HF – failed to call off dogs when they “disturbed” a fox.
Daniel Cherriman
South Shropshire Hunt master and ex huntsman of the Pytchley Hunt Daniel Cherriman was in charge of a hunt on National Trust land in the Long Mynd area of Church Stretton when the dogs caught scent of an animal.
According to Cherriman’s legal representative, the fox was not killed,
The court heard that footage captured by witnesses showed Cherriman making noises to disturb foxes. He then did nothing as the hounds hunted.
As hunt master, Cherriman should have identified what was happening and taken measures to take the hounds off the scent. The court was told Cherriman was responsible for the hounds on that day, and he should have taken reasonable action.
Cherriman pleaded guilty to hunting a wild mammal with dogs, contrary to the Hunting Act 2004.
Stephen Belford, mitigating, said that Cherriman would likely “be subjected to adverse comments for weeks, months and probably years” from hunt saboteurs who would “rejoice” in his guilty plea.
“It’s not a case where there was a kill,” he said. “On this occasion a fox was disturbed.”
Oliver Beazley
The case had been due to go to trial in December 2022, with Cherriman’s “whipper-in” or assistant, Oliver Beazley, also due to appear in court. However, Cherriman told his legal representative he wanted to plead guilty at the beginning of October 2022. The case against Beazley was discontinued.
Cherriman is a self-employed father-of-three who rides as an amateur jockey in point to point races.
Sentencing | ordered to pay a total of £803 in fine, costs and surcharge.
CONVICTED (2022) | huntsman Mark Anthony Pearson, born February 1960, of Chisel House, Hanford, Blandford Forum DT11 8HQ – found guilty of illegal hunting after he “encouraged” his out of control dogs to kill a fox.
Image source: Daily Echo
Company director Mark Pearson was observed by activists from Weymouth Animal Rights to shout “carry on” and “hunt on” at his hounds after they chased and attacked the animal during a trail hunt. The joint master of the South Dorset Hunt was then seen to carry the dead fox out of undergrowth where it had been cornered.
Pearson was found guilty of illegally hunting a wild mammal with dogs in violation of the Hunting Act 2004. Magistrates heard Pearson was leading the South Dorset Hunt through countryside in Bere Regis when the incident happened on December 13, 2021.
Another fox had been killed earlier that day by the same pack of dogs but that incident was dismissed as an unfortunate accident by police.
Image source: Weymouth Animal Rights
Two hours later, when the majority of the hunt had left, hunt saboteurs monitoring the event heard the hounds baying. One animal rights campaigner filmed the aftermath of the attack.
Pearson can be seen in footage dressed in the red coat of a master huntsman getting off his horse and walking to the barking hounds by the gorse.
Molly Mifsud, prosecuting, told the courtthat Pearson had failed to stop his hounds from killing the fox while unaware he was being filmed.
She said: “There was a hunt going on and the hounds went to ground.
“Actions of the huntsman prior to that point caused that fox to be killed.
“These actions were all in violation of Section 1 of the Hunting Act 2004.
“A person commits an offence if he hunts a wild mammal with a dog.”
Joanne Joss, one of the saboteurs, told the court she thought Pearson was encouraging the hounds.
Asked by the prosecutor what Ms Joss heard Pearson shouting after he got off his horse, she replied: “He got off his horse and joined the hounds in the gorse.
“He seemed to be encouraging them and I could hear him shouting ‘carry on’ and when he emerged from the gorse he kept saying ‘hunt on.'”
Miss Mifsud asked Ms Joss how many times Pearson ‘encouraged’ the hounds.
She said: “He was by the hounds on horseback. He told them to ‘carry on’ and said that four times as if he wanted them to carry on where the fox was.
“He got off the horse and joined them in the gorse, we thought he was leading them on.”
Derek Perry, defending, denied that Pearson had encouraged the hounds. He said his client tried to call the dogs back and was heard shouting at them ‘leave it’.
Mr Perry said: “The reality is that he blew his horn to call the hounds back.
“When the hounds didn’t all obey he got off his horse and came straight down the hill to tell them to leave it.
“The recording was taken from some fields away and in it you can hear Mr Pearson shouting ‘leave it’.
“He does not run away from the scene, he calmly takes the body to be taken away and continues on.
“At no point can Mr Pearson be heard saying ‘hunt on’.”
But in finding him guilty, presiding magistrate Justice Stephen Corben told Pearson that he should have had control over the hounds before they slaughtered the fox.
Mr Corben said: “The prosecution has shown us three video clips and called witnesses who have given evidence that is credible and consistent.
“Mr Pearson told the court that he had decades of experience with hounds.
“He stated that he tried to get the hounds to stop but it seems that they were already hunting in the gorse.
“We believe that Mr Pearson should have had full control of his pack.
“He told us he used a special call to bring them back but it didn’t work.
“We therefore find him guilty of the illegal hunting of a wild mammal.”
Sentencing: fined £6,000, victim surcharge of £190 and costs of £620.
Pearson had his conviction for illegal fox hunting overturned after a judge raised “significant concerns” over the Crown’s case.
In overturning the decision, His Honour Judge Stephen Climie said the Crown has ‘failed to prove’ it was Mr Pearson’s intention for the dogs to kill the animal but did say Pearson ‘could have done more’ to prevent the death.
CONVICTED (2022) | East Essex Hunt terrier-man Paul O’Shea born c.1973, of Lower Jennies, Mount Bures, Bures CO8 5AP – stabbed a terrified fox with a garden fork.
Secret filming caught cruel Paul O’Shea using a dog to flush a fox from an artificial earth before attacking it with a garden fork
O’Shea admitted hunting a wild mammal with dogs and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
The terrier-man was captured on camera alongside 16-year-old daughter Scarlett O’Shea in Great Monks Wood in Pattiswick, Essex, in December 2021. Secret filming by the North London Hunt Saboteurs showed O’Shea using a Patterdale terrier dog to flush a fox out of artificial earth and catching it in a net placed over the entrance. He subsequently attacked the fox with a garden fork by ‘stabbing it’ several times before kicking it.
Magistrate Paul Jee said there was a “deliberate” and “high level” of suffering.
“In the first instance, there was the use of a ‘hard terrier’ which was chasing and biting the fox underground, and still hanging on to it when it came out,” he said.
“We heard that the fox was picked up by his brush, which would have caused terror and suffering ,and we saw for ourselves repeated attempts to stab the fox with a fork. Whether it pierced the skin or not, we don’t know, the body was never found.”
Scarlett O’Shea, who was present throughout the harrowing incident, was also charged with hunting a wild animal with dogs, but the case against her was discontinued.
PC Jed Raven, of Essex Police’s Rural Engagement Team said: “This was a particularly nasty incident. The fox was attacked by the dog until O’Shea grabbed the fox by its tail to pull it out of the net. He then attacked the poor fox with a large garden fork, stabbing it several times, before kicking it.
“Sadly, we don’t know exactly what happened to the fox as the film did not capture this. What is certain is that the fox would have been caused a great deal of physical pain and discomfort, as well as mental terror. This is simply not acceptable.
“The film footage of the incident was extremely distressing. We were determined to ensure O’Shea did not get away with his cruel acts so we immediately sought advice from the Crown Prosecution Service, which helped us to secure the charges against him.”
“O’Shea maliciously targeted a fox with his dog before violently stabbing it with a garden fork. The footage that was captured showed his cruel treatment of the fox, and this key evidence led to O’Shea’s guilty pleas. Cruelty to animals is unacceptable and we are working closely with specialist police rural engagement teams across the country to bring perpetrators to justice.”
CPS district prosecutor Sally Robinson said: “This was an abhorrent example of animal cruelty and hunting committed by a terrier-man in the East Essex Hunt. Mr O’Shea flushed a fox and then utilised a pitchfork to commit unnecessary suffering to it. The Crown Prosecution Service take all cases of animal cruelty and hunting offences seriously and where the Full Code Test is met, will take steps to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice.”
Sentencing | 18-week suspended prison term; 200 hours of community service; £233 total costs. Banned from keeping any dog for five years. O’Shea received no separate penalty for hunting a wild mammal with dogs – an offence under the Hunting Act 2004.
Paul O’Shea is employed as a project manager with the Orchard Group. The CEO of that firm, Simon Fordham, is reportedly an ex huntmaster himself.
Paul O’Shea with wife, Wendy
O’Shea is married to Wendy O’Shea, who is one of the Joint Masters of the East Essex Hunt
Paul O’Shea with children Charlie and Scarlett
In addition to 16-year-old Scarlett, the couple have an adult son named Charlie O’Shea, who like his father is a terrier man for the East Essex Hunt. He also operates an agricultural business named O’Shea Contractors
CONVICTED (2021) | senior huntsman Mark Hankinson, born 14 November 1960, of Frampton Farm, Chetnole Road, Leigh. Sherborne DT9 6HJ – encouraged illegal fox hunting in online talk.
Mark Hankinson, a director of the Masters of Foxhounds Association was found guilty of encouraging or assisting others to commit an offence under the Hunting Act.
Recordings of Hankinson speaking to around 100 senior hunters in two private webinars in August 2020 were leaked online.
The prosecution argued he was giving advice on how to avoid the law.
The defence said he was advising what to do if saboteurs disrupt legal hunts.
At Westminster court Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram said “I am sure that the defendant through his words was giving advice on how to illegally hunt with dogs.”
“In my judgement he was clearly encouraging the mirage of trail laying to act as cover for illegal hunting,” he added.
Mr Hankinson was fined £1,000 along with a contribution of £2,500 towards legal costs.
The Masters of Foxhounds Association said it was considering an appeal of the verdict.
“We will be setting up a review which will be conducted to ensure that hunts are in a position to offer reassurances to all landowners and other stakeholders that hunts are operating within the law,” said Chairman of the Masters of Foxhounds Association Andrew Osborne.
The videos of Hankinson came to light when they were leaked to anti-hunting groups and then posted online.
The trial at Westminster Magistrates Court took place over three days in September 2021. Clips of the video recordings were played in court.
The case rested on the context of the advice Hankinson gave in the webinars.
In the recordings he told participants “if you’ve got saboteurs out with you in any shape or form we need to have clear, visible, plausible trail laying being done throughout the day.”
“It’s a lot easier to create a smokescreen if you’ve got more than one trail layer operating.”
Hankinson told the court that when he said “smokescreen” he was giving advice on laying dummy trails to confuse potential saboteurs and allow legitimate hunting to continue.
Prosecuting barrister Gregory Gordon said in his closing submission that Hankinson was offering advice on how to hunt illegally “behind a smoke screen of trail hunting”.
“His words were clear, his advice was capable of encouraging hunts to commit illegal hunting, and his intention was to encourage illegal hunting,” Mr Gordon said.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram concluded: “Mr Hankinson’s advice that trail laying needed to be “plausible” was only necessary if it was a “sham and a fiction””
“It wasn’t just bad language as he suggested, there was a clear and common thread throughout the two separate webinars.”
“A specific aggravating factor was that you were speaking to large number of people. Your words potentially had an impact throughout the whole country.”
The League Against Cruel Sports said the case “has proven beyond doubt that trail hunting is nothing but a sham”.
It continued: “It’s hunting dressed up as something illegal, it uses this “smokescreen” [which] is nothing but an attempt to deceive somebody, an attempt to disguise illegal or nefarious activities. And this court case has proved that.”
Following the police investigation into Hankinson, a number of organisations withdrew their permission to allow hunts to cross their land. That included the National Trust, Forestry England, the Lake District National Park and Natural Resources Wales.
The court verdict is likely to lead to a review of this position. A motion to permanently ban trail hunting on National Trust land will be debated this month.
It was reported that Hankinson’s appeal against conviction was successful.
The court considered whether Hankinson’s words were intentionally encouraging an offence.
Appeal Judge Gregory Perrins said “someone listening to his words might well have taken the view that he was encouraging illegal hunting”.
But Hankinson said he was referring to the practice of laying dummy trails to fool saboteurs.
Judge Perrins said: “We accept his role within the Hunting Office was to ensure compliance with the law and the Hunting Office itself is committed to lawful hunting.”
He added: “In those circumstances it would be unusual if they now took the decision to host a series of webinars which included advice on how to work around the ban.”
After the decision, the League Against Cruel Sports urged the government to strengthen the Hunting Act.
“The appeal result changes nothing in terms of our position, because only by strengthening the Hunting Act, by closing its many loopholes and outlawing so-called trail hunting, can illegal hunting be properly stopped and those determined to carry on persecuting wildlife brought to justice,” said Andy Knott, the league’s chief executive.
Mark Hankinson brought about his own downfall after speaking at a webinar attended by the morally bankrupt Hunting Office and over 100 from the wider fox hunting community but he was not alone.
Other speakers included:
Benjamin Mancroft, Chairman of the Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA) – a Tory peer
Richard Tyacke – Director, Association of Masters of Harriers and Beagles (AMHB)
Richard Gurney – senior master of the Old Surrey Burstow and West Kent Hunt
Paul Jelley – a retired Avon & Somerset Police officer
Phil Davies – Countryside Alliance, retired Chief Inspector with Dyfed-Powys Police
Will Day – Vice Chairman of the New Forest Hounds
Alice Bowden – Director, the Hunting Office.
More than 100 hunt staff and masters of hunts attended the online webinars in August 2020. YouTube have removed the footage following a “copyright claim” by the Hunting Office but you can still view it here.
CONVICTED (2021) | Anthony Williams aka Chang Williams, born 13 November 1990, of 4 The Stables, Southend Lane, Newent GL18 1JD – caught illegally hunting hares.
Tree-surgeon Williams, owner of Landscapes Plus Ltd (Facebook page here, website here, was caught illegally hunting for hares on Cotswold farmland on New Year’s Day 2021.
He was accompanied by two boys when he went hare coursing on a private estate near Cirencester.
“He entered the farm land in the Cotswolds during the hours of darkness while accompanied by the two boys,” said a Gloucestershire Police spokesperson.
“Williams then encouraged his lurcher-type dogs to hunt hares on the land, otherwise known as hare coursing.
“The crime was being watched by the gamekeeper of the private estate near Cirencester and he immediately called 999. Police officers quickly arrived and the man and two boys were arrested at the scene. Their vehicle and the dogs were also seized.
“The two boys were dealt with separately by a Youth Offending Team, but Mr Williams was summonsed to court for his actions.
“The court heard how Williams’ crime was premeditated. He had subjected numerous hares to cruelty and caused the land owner and gamekeeper distress.
“Williams was convicted of the offence under the 2004 Hunting Act and was ordered to pay a fine of £1713.00 within 28 days.”
