Four men have been convicted of illegally hunting a fox with hounds following a detailed investigation by Dorset Police’s Rural Crime Team.
The incident took place on Monday 4th December 2023 near Buckhorn Weston, a village within The BV’s North Dorset heartland, during an event held by the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt. It was reported that hounds pursued and killed a fox during the meet.
Footage and evidence submitted by members of the public who had been monitoring the hunt were central to the police investigation. Dorset Police confirmed that expert review was undertaken to help establish that an offence under the Hunting Act 2004 had taken place.
Four Somerset men – Conall McGrath, 23, and George Pierce, 33, both of Charlton Horethorne, as well as Andrew Osborne, 60, and Freddie Osborne, 34, of Templecombe – were subsequently tried at Poole Magistrates’ Court. All four were found guilty of breaching section one of the Hunting Act 2004.
McGrath and Pierce were ordered to pay £1,140 each in fines and costs. The Osbornes were each fined £930.
Detective Constable Steve Allen of the Rural Crime Team commented: “Dorset Police is committed to investigating any alleged breach of the Hunting Act 2004 and ensuring anyone breaching the legislation is held to account. This case saw us work with experts and the CPS to compile evidence and build a compelling case.”
The law prohibiting the hunting of wild mammals with dogs came into force in 2005 under the Hunting Act 2004. While certain exemptions apply, police noted that this incident did not fall within those exceptions.
As our readers may recall, The BV reported on this case in depth earlier this year (Dorset’s Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt suspended, The BV Feb 24), as part of our continuing coverage of rural affairs and the complex debates around countryside law, land use and tradition. Speaking at the time, North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs told The BV:
‘We had really hoped that the presence of the drone would have stopped the hunt killing the fox. Unfortunately, it seemed they were making so much noise and were so engrossed in chasing the fox that they didn’t notice it until it was too late. It’s a sickening insight into what goes on and very upsetting for us all that we couldn’t save this fox.’
Hunts are lawfully allowed to go out on what are known as trail hunts. This is the practice of using a pack of hounds to follow a scent of animal urine, typically fox, that is laid in advance – the trail. If hounds accidentally deviate from the trail that has been laid for them and start following the scent of a live quarry, it is the responsibility of the huntsman and hunt staff to stop the hounds immediately.
No one from the Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt was available for comment at the time. However, a spokesperson for the Countryside Alliance told The BV:‘There have been just a handful of hunts prosecuted since the Hunting Act came into force almost 19 years ago. It is estimated that around 12,000 days of lawful hunting activities take place across the country each season … demonstrating that the majority of hunting days are conducted within the law.’
Dorset Police are encouraging members of the public to report any further concerns relating to illegal hunting activities.
