Former local huntsman due to face trial next week accused of seriously injuring hunt saboteur near Harborough​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​

He is accused of riding a horse over his victim, who suffered a collapsed lung and several broken bones
By Red Williams
Published 20th Jun 2022, 15:40 BST
Chris Mardles, 25, is charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Mel Broughton, an animal rights activist with the Northants Hunt Saboteurs group.Chris Mardles, 25, is charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Mel Broughton, an animal rights activist with the Northants Hunt Saboteurs group.
Chris Mardles, 25, is charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Mel Broughton, an animal rights activist with the Northants Hunt Saboteurs group.

A former local huntsman is due to face trial next week accused of seriously injuring a hunt saboteur by riding a horse over him during a meet near Market Harborough.

Chris Mardles, 25, is charged with causing grievous bodily harm to Mel Broughton, an animal rights activist with the Northants Hunt Saboteurs group.

Mardles is now due to face trial at Northampton Crown Court on Wednesday June 29 after he was remanded on unconditional bail at the town’s magistrates’ court on Monday May 23.

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Mr Broughton suffered a collapsed lung and several broken bones in the incident outside Sibbertoft on September 5, 2020.

He was flown to hospital by air ambulance for urgent treatment as police launched an investigation.

Mardles, of Petworth, West Sussex, was formerly a member and whipper-in with the Northamptonshire-based Pytchley Woodland Hunt.