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Hunt duo lose their appeal
HUNT employees used “cynical subterfuge” to disguise the fact they were illegally hunting a fox, a judge has ruled.
Judge Michael Pert QC told Leicester Crown Court that Derek Hopkins and Kevin Allen, employees of the Great Bowden-based Fernie Hunt, had pretended they where following a trail scent to cover up the illegal pursuit of a fox.
Dismissing their appeal against convictions for breaching the ban on hunting, Judge Pert said: “It may be that they [hunt supporters] feel the day will come when this [Hunting] Act is repealed and they may be correct but the law is the law.
“Their conduct amounted to cynical subterfuge. They used a trail hunt as a cover.”
The five-day appeal, which concluded this afternoon (Friday), followed the convictions of Huntsman Hopkins and terrierman Allen at Harborough Magistrates’ Court earlier this year.
The charges were illegally hunting a mammal with a dog and interfering with a badger sett.
Both men will have to pay out thousands in additional court fees for bringing the case to appeal - £3,630 for Hopkins and £2,730 for Allen.
See next Thursday’s Harborough Mail for a full report and reaction
Report by Ian O’Pray at Leicester Crown Court at 4.25pm (Friday).
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Thursday 17 May 2012
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Comments
There are 4 comments to this article
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Geoffrey Woollard
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 01:45 PMThis is good news. But I expect that their costs will be picked up by the Fernie Hunt. It's time that these men AND the Fernie Hunt acknowledged that they are on to a hiding to nothing. Fox hunting - along with hare coursing and stag hunting - is going to remain illegal. These so-called 'sports' have less and less support among true country people - of whom I am one - as every day passes. And those who want the Hunting Act 2004 to be repealed are themselves repellent.
mhayworth
Monday, October 17, 2011 at 01:43 PMFinally a judge in this country who upholds the law instead of protecting the so called 'rights' of criminals. We need to see many more of these convictions on a weekly basis. The hunts boast constantly that 40,000 of them signed a pledge to ignore the law and continue hunting as usual - and that is exactly what they have done in full view of a corrupt poice force and their cronies in the judicial system. Bravo to this judge for proving that not all of these appalling thugs 'own' the legal system!
kmm
Sunday, October 16, 2011 at 10:05 AMThe judge may said this sorry pair may' think the day may come when the Hunting Act will be repealed', well dream on! The Hunting Act will be strengthened not repleaed, when Labour regain power. This pair of arrogant law breakers and animal abusers have got their just rewards. Digging out badger sets and terrifying wild animals for their sadistic fun, shame on them and all those who are involved in this perverted abuse.
Auntiecon
Saturday, October 15, 2011 at 09:02 AMThis is excellent news. Illegal hunting is going on all over the country on a daily basis. Maybe this will make more law enforcers sit up and keep a more vigilent eye on so-called 'trail hunting'. Thank you Harborough Mail for reporting this - it's time more publicity was given to these law breakers and stop this barbaric 'sport' of hunting with dogs.
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