Anger as RSPCA targets the Heythrop as a whole

The RSPCA is being accused of pursuing a political agenda after launching an unprecedented prosecution against the Heythrop.

The animal charity has long spent large sums campaigning against hunting, but now – in a case that is expected to cost over £1million – it has issued summons on 52 charges against four officers of the hunt.

The Heythrop as a whole has also been summonsed to face 10 charges – the first time this has happened since the ban came into force in 2005.

Those charged – in relation to alleged incidents in the 2011-12 season – are recently retired senior master Richard Sumner, joint-master Nessie Lambert, kennel-huntsman Julian Barnfield and whipper-in Duncan Hume.

Mr Barnfield is already being prosecuted by the RSPCA on two charges relating to the 2010-11 season. They all deny the charges.

Tim Bonner, campaigns director of the Countryside Alliance, told H&H that the case was an “abuse of the court system“.

“It should be for the police to investigate alleged crimes and the Crown Prosecution Service to bring cases – not for campaigning organisations to use the courts to make political points,” he said.

The Heythrop is the only pack hunting in the Prime Minister’s constituency.

Mr Bonner added: “The expenditure of such huge sums of money on a political campaign by a registered charity – especially one that is claiming to be at ‘breaking point’ [financially] – is highly questionable.”

The RSPCA is currently consulting on 130 redundancies.

A spokesman for the charity defended its actions.

“Any agency can bring a prosecution,” she said. “It just happens that we have been provided with the evidence on this one and have taken the decision to prosecute.”

Nessie Lambert told H&H that the hunt “firmly rejected” the allegations.

“We are amazed that the RSPCA has the staffing, money and time to pursue what is clearly a politically motivated campaign against a hunt that happens to operate within David Cameron’s constituency,” she added.

This news story was first published in the current issue of H&H (10 May 2012)

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now