THREE ACCUSED OF BREAKING HUNTING ACT

The Cornishman

A date has been set for the trial of three men accused of hunting illegally in the Westcountry.

The members of the Minehead Harriers will appear before magistrates in Taunton on October 8.

They face allegations under the Hunting Act, in a prosecution brought by the League Against Cruel Sports.

It is understood the organisation has footage which it claims shows the trio hunting illegally.

Papers have been served on Minehead Harriers huntmaster Sydney Westcott, as well as William Goffe and Gary Bradley.

All three stand accused under the Hunting Act, but Gary Bradley, the hunt's whipper-in, is also alleged to have committed a public order offence.

The allegations relate to an incident in January this year.

The huntsmen have the support of their hunt and of the Countryside Alliance.

The case will be the third brought by the league in the region. So far, all of them have been in Somerset. The organisation has succeeded in its two other prosecutions.

In June, huntsman Richard Down and whipper-in Adrian Pillivant, of the Quantock Staghounds, were convicted at Bristol Magistrates' Court.

They were each fined £500 and ordered to pay £1,000 costs.

In August last year, Tony Wright, of the Exmoor Foxhounds, became the first person to be found guilty of hunting illegally.

He was fined £500, but he has lodged an appeal, which is scheduled to be heard at Exeter Crown Court on November 5.

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