Reliability of evidence produced by hunt saboteurs questioned after huntsman found not guilty

A professional huntsman has been found not guilty of two charges of illegal hunting in contravention of the Hunting Act which were alleged to have taken place on 10 December 2019 and 21 January 2020.

The verdict has prompted the Countryside Alliance to call into question the integrity and reliability of supposed evidence produced by hunt saboteurs, as well as questioning the decision of the CPS to bring these cases to court.

William Bishop, a professional huntsman employed by the Crawley and Horsham Hunt, appeared for trial at Worthing Magistrates Court yesterday (10^th March 2021) where District Judge Kelly stated that there was no evidence whatsoever on which a court could be satisfied that Mr Bishop had any intention to participate in hunting the fox as alleged.

Mr Bishop denied both allegations, maintaining that he did not hunt either fox, but was at all times engaging in the lawful hunting of pre-laid artificial trails, as set out in statements he provided to the police when interviewed under caution.

The Prosecution offered no evidence in respect of the 10 December allegation (after they were unable to produce the video footage of the alleged incident), and a submission of no case to answer was upheld by the District Judge in respect of the 21 January allegation, who also granted an application for a Defendant's Costs Order in Mr Bishop's favour.

Polly Portwin of the Countryside Alliance, who welcomed the verdict, said: "The Countryside Alliance has serious concerns about how these two cases reached court when there was no evidence produced in respect of one of the allegations, and the judge stated that there was no case to answer in the second incident. The hunt cooperated fully with police enquiries throughout and we strongly urge the CPS to consider why this was ever put before a judge."

Despite hunt saboteurs' assertions that they saw no trails being laid, numerous trails were pre-laid on both dates in the areas visited by the hunt. Evidence of this was supplied to the police prior to charge, and it was accepted by the CPS at trial that trails had indeed been laid.