David Cameron’s local Heythrop hunt guilty of illegal fox-hunting
The Prime Minister’s former local hunt was fined after admitting illegal fox-hunting with dogs.
David Cameron, the MP for Witney, has previously ridden with the Heythrop Hunt, which pleaded guilty to fox-hunting.
The hunt pleaded guilty to four charges of “unlawfully hunting a wild fox with dogs” on land in the Cotswolds. Julian Barnsfield, 49, a former huntsman, and Richard Sumner, 68, a recently retired hunt master, also pleaded guilty to the same charges.
The hunt and two of its members were sentenced at Oxford Magistrates’ Court, after the court was shown film gathered by anti-hunt monitors during last year’s season.
District Judge Tim Pattinson fined the hunting group £4,000, Sumner £1,800 and Barnsfield £1,000. The hunt was also ordered to pay £15,000 towards RSPCA legal costs.
The prosecution said hounds had been encouraged to chase foxes, which is banned under legislation which came into force in 2005.
The Prime Minister is thought to have ridden with the Heythrop Hunt on six occasions before law was changed to ban fox-hunting.
Charlie Brooks, the racehorse trainer and husband of Rebekah Brooks, has also been a member of the group.
Conservatives Against Fox Hunting supports the RSPCA’s stance on tackling all wildlife crime. Hunting with dogs is illegal and people who hunt wild foxes, stags, hares and mink with dogs are breaking the law of the land.
