Huntsman appears in court accused of seriously injuring hunt saboteur near Harborough

The campaigner suffered a collapsed lung and several broken bones in the incident outside Sibbertoft and was flown to hospital by air ambulance for urgent treatment
By Red Williams
Published 26th May 2022, 08:28 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 has appeared before magistrates 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.

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

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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.

He was taken before Northampton magistrates’ court on Monday (May 23).

Mardles did not enter a plea and was released on unconditional bail to appear at Northampton Crown Court next month.