15.10 latest: Gloucestershire huntsman denies fox-hunting charges
The first professional huntsman to be prosecuted by police for hunting a fox denied the charges against him today.
Julian Barnfield, 44, of the Heythrop Hunt, which covers Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, faces three counts of hunting a wild mammal with dogs.
Conservative leader David Cameron has supporters in the Heythrop, which is close to his Witney constituency, and has ridden with them in the past.
Barnfield, who lives at the kennels in Chipping Norton, Oxfordshire, was charged under the Hunting Act 2004.
Barnfield did not appear at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court in person today, but his counsel, Tim Hayden, entered not guilty pleas to all charges on his behalf.
Earlier this year the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) confirmed the case was the first brought by the state for hunting foxes, although the Devon and Somerset Staghounds are being prosecuted by police in connection with stag hunting. That case is currently the subject of a judicial review.
Previous prosecutions have been brought at private expense by organisations like LACS and the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW).
The case was adjourned until November 3, when a pre-trial review will take place at Cheltenham Magistrates' Court.
3 Comments
by thomas jenner, South Gloucestershire
Wednesday, October 01 2008, 9:01PM
“Jessica,
They are not being 'done for cruelty', they are facing counts of hunting a wild mammal with dogs. Furthermore we are in the 21st Century, not the 20th. Keep up the good work.”
by Frances Brown, Woodbridge, Suffolk
Sunday, August 10 2008, 1:20PM
“It is about time the police supported the Hunting Ban - may it remain on the Statute Books forever.
It is SHAMEFUL the way charities such as LACS and IFAW have to foot the enormous costs of prosecuting these countryside killers while the CPS and police conveniently hide.
Should the Ban be overturned, God forbid, the police should remember how much it cost THEM to police all the hunt meets during the dark ages leading up to the Ban.”
by jessica jones, bath
Monday, August 04 2008, 2:27PM
“Good for the police lets hope the two so called huntsmen get done for cruelty.hunting foxes and stags is so so cruel.we are in the 20th century not in the dark ages.KEEP UP THE BAN WITH HUNTING WITH DOGS.”