17th March 2025
A man has been convicted under the Hunting Act after a fox was killed by hounds taking part in hunting activities in rural Warwickshire.
Benjamin Halsall, aged 24, from Shipston-on-Stour was taking part in what he claimed was a legal trail hunt on the 9th of October 2023 close to Idlicote.
A district judge at Coventry Magistrates’ Court determined he made no intervention to prevent a pack of fox hounds from chasing and killing a fox which had broken cover.
He was described as having the role of a “whipper-in” on the day, which the court was told meant that he was the “eyes and ears” of the hunt and it was his responsibility to call the hounds off if they were seen to be chasing any wild mammals or livestock.
Halsall claimed he had received no formal training, but was assisting on the day and was not involved in the organisation of the hunt.
The court was shown bodycam video, taken by Rebecca Forrester from Three Counties Hunt Saboteurs, which showed her trying to intervene and move between the fox and the hounds, but the fox was quickly killed by the pack of dogs.
Halsall was fined £1,000 and ordered to pay a further £1,000 in costs after a two-day trial. Warwickshire Hunt Limited was acquitted of the same offence. The district judge said there was no evidence it was involved.
However, this is the first time a member or participant from the Warwickshire Hunt has been convicted of hunting a wild mammal with dogs.
The Hunt previously told ITV News that it partakes in lawful trail hunting and hound exercise, after a reporter witnessed hounds from the Warwickshire Hunt pursuing a fox through a housing estate, with the fox narrowly escaping.
PC Matt Simms from Warwickshire Police’s Rural Crime Team said: “It’s a significant outcome for us as a force, Warwickshire Police. This is the first time in the 20 years that the Hunting Act has been in place that there’s been a conviction of a member of a trail hunting organisation in the county.
It’s extremely difficult to gather evidence for and those that do gather the evidence a lot of the time are scared, concerned or worried to pass that for us to investigate. This case has shown what providing that evidence to us can do.”
Trail hunting is described by hunting organisations a lawful activity where a real or artificial animal scent is laid over a route for hounds to follow. However, many anti-hunting campaigners and some rural policing officers have described it as a ‘smokescreen’ for illegal hunting to continue.
Cathy Scott from West Midlands Hunt Saboteurs said: “It was very brave of my fellow hunter saboteur to submit the footage and it was crucial in playing the part for today’s successful prosecution. Obviously for that saboteur, like all saboteurs, it is horrific to see the scenes that were played in court and the death of any animal, which we do try to prevent.
“Unfortunately we can’t, which is why it’s is why we do need a tougher ban in place”.
Labour pledged to ban trail hunting in their 2024 election manifesto, but are yet to set out how or when a ban would be implemented.
Mike Nicholas from the League Against Cruel Sports told ITV News: “It’s very difficult to get a prosecution, but today, trail hunting was in the dock, and today we did get a prosecution.
“But we still need stronger fox hunting laws. The government has committed to banning trail hunting, but I need to set a timetable now for when they do that, because as the footage which was shown in court showed fox hunting, still chasing and killing foxes.”
TIME THIS GOVERNMENT GOT IT’S ACT TOGETHER AND STARTED DOING WHAT IT SAID IT WOULD AND TIME THESE ILLEGAL HUNTING SCUM WERE PUT IN JAIL FOR BREAKING THE LAW AND MURDERING INNOCENTG ANIMALS THAT HAVE AS MUCH RIGHT ON THIS PLANET AS WE DO.