20th September 2024
Two men have been found guilty of illegally hunting a fox with dogs following a trial.
They have been landed with a court bill totalling £2,470.
Thomas Michael Lyle, 34, and Marcus Boundy, 22, were convicted of hunting a fox with dogs in Stourpaine on September 15, 2022, as part of the Blandford-based Portman Hunt.
They denied the charge in a trial which began on Monday, September 16, at Weymouth Magistrates Court.
The defendants had claimed their activities were a trail hunt, a legal form of hunting activity, where foxhounds follow a pre-laid trail.
Magistrates heard that during the trail hunt, a live fox was chased by the dogs. The defendants, of Blandford, had argued that the chasing of the fox was unintentional and unplanned.
The prosecution said that the hunting “became illegal, if not intended to be”.
Adam Cooper, prosecuting, said: “The defendants say that at no time did they intentionally hunt a wild mammal with a dog.
“They say the pursuit was accidental, unintentional or they were unaware.”
Stephen Welford, defending, said that Lyle and Boundy had been unaware of the fox, and were of previous good character.
Ben Tibbles and Emma Parsons, of the North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs Group, gave evidence in court including showing drone and handheld camera footage.
Following two hours of deliberation today, magistrates said that it was ‘inconceivable’ that the two defendants were unaware of the fox, and should have acted to stop the hunt.
Lyle was fined £900 and must pay a surcharge of £360 and court costs of £400.
Boundy was fined £400 and must pay a surcharge of £160 and court costs of £250.
On the first day of the trial on Monday, the owner of the land, Mark Pearson, 64, of Little Hanford near Child Okeford, Dorset, was told no evidence would be offered against him
https://www.dorsetecho.co.uk/news/24599561.men-portman-hunt-found-guilty-illegal-foxhunting/
Good!!!!