Crawley and Horsham hunt trial opens today

The trial of four members of the Crawley and Horsham hunt opened today (25 August) at Crawley Magistrates Court, in West Sussex.

Jamie Hawksfield, joint-master of the Crawley and Horsham, who lives in Partridge Green, near Horsham, faces charges under the Hunting Act alongside fellow joint-master Neil Millard from Shipley, hunt secretary Rachel Holdsworth of Washington and former huntsman Andrew Phillis of Totnes.

Hunt saboteurs filmed them at three meets in January and February this year, allegedly using hounds to kill foxes illegally.

A spokesman for the Countryside Alliance said: “The Countryside Alliance and the whole hunting community stand shoulder to shoulder with the Crawley and Horsham hunt at this time and will continue to support them as court proceedings get underway.

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