Buccleuch Foxhounds duo found not guilty

Tim Allen, the Huntsman and Sean Anderson Whipper in for the Scottish Borders based Buccleuch Foxhounds were today (Wednesday 5th December 2018) found not guilty at Jedburgh Sheriff Court of breaching the Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 by hunting a wild mammal with dogs on the 20th November 2017.

The case had been brought by the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service (COPFS) following evidence supplied by undercover investigators employed by the League Against Cruel Sports.

Countryside Alliance Director for Scotland Jamie Stewart said: "We are clearly delighted for Tim Allen, Sean Anderson and their families. This has been a very long, stressful and expensive process which should never have happened. We remain frustrated by the COPFS as they continue to indulge these constant and unfounded allegations made by the League Against Cruel Sports which result in hundreds of hours of wasted court and police time.

"Sheriff Paterson conducted the most thorough examination of the Act since its introduction in 2002, the judgement however was very simple. The COPFS had no evidence to support the allegations of illegal hunting.

"The Protection of Wild Mammals (Scotland) Act 2002 is clearly enforceable but these allegations were politically motivated and not based on credible evidence."