Former huntmaster vows to fight Hunting Act charges

 

Jonathon Seed

Five members of the Avon Vale Hunt, including a Wiltshire councillor, have appeared in court charged with breaching the Hunting Act 2004.

Joshua Charlesworth, 18, from East Tytherton; Benjamin Pethers, 28, from Hoopers Pool, Southwick; Stuart Radbourne, 28, from The Common, Bromham; Paul Tylee-Hinder, 58, of Quemerford, Calne and Jonathon Seed, 54, of Chittoe Heath, Bromham all denied the breach when they appeared before magistrates in Chippenham on Tuesday.

Four of them denied an additional charge of intefering with a badger sett, though Mr Radbourne, one of the joint hunt masters, indicated a guilty plea to that charge.

 The case has been brought by the RSPCA and refers to incidents alleged to have taken place on March 6 this year at Stockley Hollow, near Calne.

The bench heard that the case could not proceed on Tuesday so it has been adjourned until November 9 when a date for the trial will be set. The five all appeared on summons so the question of bail did not arise.

Mr Seed, Wiltshire councillor for Summerham and Seend and a former hunt master, said he intended to fight the allegation against him.

In a statement outside court he said: “This is a private prosecution by the RSPCA and I believe that is has been commenced for political reasons as their stance against hunting is well known and it is of great significance that Wiltshire Police, after advice from the Crown Prosecution Service, declined to take this case forward.

“In my opinion these proceedings are an abuse of the private prosecution system which needs to be addressed in due course. I totally deny the allegations of any offence against the Hunting Act and there is simply no evidence of either myself or any of the other defendants or anyone else being involved in any illegal hunting on the day in question.”

 News Link:-http://www.thisiswiltshire.co.uk/news/9948094.Former_huntmaster_vows_to_fight_Hunting_Act_charges/

 

League Against Cruel Sports – Video Revealing Truth Behind Shooting Industry

“This well thought out documentary gives the lay man an insight into what goes on within the shooting industry. From the rearing of the birds to the actual shooting, this film explores the hidden cruelty of this so-called sport. How can killing animals either by gun or snare be called a sport, in reality, these people are no better than those who attend canned hunts in Africa!”

Gunsmoke and Mirrors

Published on 6 Jul 2012 by LACS1924

Gunsmoke and Mirrors, a 30 minute documentary film is the culmination of ten years of investigation work by the League Against Cruel Sports into the shooting industry in which the horrific reality of the industry from beginning to end is revealed.

Despite claims that gamebirds are wild, natural and free range we show the reality of the intensive breeding and rearing conditions, shocking proof of the millions of other animals killed each year, many in brutal snares, to protect the precious stocks for shooting. Plus, evidence of the huge amount of wastage the industry produces making it clear that this is not about food but about sport.

League Against Cruel Sports

“Let me just put one thing straight…I have never ever attended a hunt, despite being in the equine business for 40+ years. I never have & never will be associated with this barbaric sport…But I know those that do…so can’t say any-more because of possible retribution; just know I don’t take part!!!”

It’s the end of yet another hunting season and despite the Hunting Act 2004 making it illegal to hunt wild mammals with dogs in England and Wales, we are still getting hundreds of calls from members of the public who are witnessing suspicious activity and havoc caused by the hunts. In our video blog below we take a look at some of the reports of havoc we’ve received and ask the question, are the hunters really abiding by the law?

We take a look back over this year’s hunting season; including our report into artificial earths, some of the havoc caused by hunts and Joe talks about our new investigators.

We began this hunting season with the publication of our report into artificial earths. Earths were historically built by hunts to provide a breeding place and home for foxes, so that the hunts could ensure they had a ready supply of foxes to hunt. Our five month investigation revealed evidence that some artificial earths had been recently renovated and food and water supplies were also found. We believe that this points to a nationwide conspiracy to encourage and sustain fox populations for the purposes of hunting. Read the full report…

As the hunting season got underway the crimewatch calls began flooding in. Of the hundreds of calls received, nearly 20% were describing some kind of havoc caused by the ‘trail hunting’ which was taking place. From hounds running riot through people’s gardens, livestock and pets being attacked to hounds being killed and our monitors being attacked.

The League receives the same reports every season and we think it’s high time that hunts are held accountable for these blatant infringements of the law. In December last year the Master of the North Shropshire Hunt said; “We were out trail hunting…when we lost the hounds. It was a freak accident and won’t happen again.”  Surely if this was such a freak incident then we wouldn’t be seeing ‘accidents’ year after year. Watch the video blog to find out more…

It’s not just foxes, deer and hares which need your protection. The fox hunting season may be over but we’re now nearly a month into the mink hunting season and we need your help to catch any illegal activity. If you have information on an upcoming hunt or if you see any suspicious activity please contact our crimewatch team on 01483 524250 or complete ouronline form.

Uploaded by LACS1924 on 24 Apr 2012

We take a look back over this year’s hunting season; including our report into artificial earths, some of the havoc caused by hunts and Joe talks about our new investigators.