Harriers pack accused of illegal hunting
THE Minehead Harriers are the latest pack to be targeted by the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) for alleged illegal hunting.
The LACS claims to have footage showing the hunt breaking the terms of the Hunting Act while trail hunting in January.
Minehead Harriers master Sydney Westcott, huntsman William Goffe and amateur whipper-in Gary Bradley were summonsed to appear at court today (Thurs) but the case has been adjourned.
Mr Bradley is also charged with a public order offence.
It is the first case to involve a pack of hounds carrying out trail hunting – rather than huntsmen taking part in exempt hunting.
Joint master Caroline Clifford said: “We have not seen the footage.
“The League is out with us almost every day and they have taken a lot of footage of us but I don’t know what of.
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“We just have to wait for the new date to be set.
“The Masters of Foxhounds Association (MFHA) and the Countryside Alliance (CA) have been tremendously supportive of us.”
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A self-confessed newshound, farmer’s daughter and journalist of many years' experience, Charlotte worked on regional papers before joining H&H in 2007. A regular rider, she visited Ireland in 2010 to investigate the fate of Irish horses through the recession, to much acclaim, and reported from the FEI General Assembly in Rio de Janeiro in 2011. She left Horse & Hound in March 2013.