Tedworth Huntsman knocked out by masked sabs

On Wednesday 28th January the Western Daily Press reported: "A West Country huntmaster was knocked unconscious in a vicious attack by masked hunt saboteurs armed with iron bars, the Western Daily Press can reveal. Police in Wiltshire are investigating the incident, which happened near the village of Everleigh, near Amesbury, at the end of a fractious day of confrontations between sabs and the Tedworth Hunt on Saturday. Officers called to the incident ended up giving first aid to the huntsman, Mike Lane, before paramedics arrived. He was rushed to the Great Western Hospital in Swindon and kept in overnight with head injuries, which included concussion and several broken teeth." Mike tells the paper: "I slipped over and on the ground one of them kicked me in the head twice and knocked me out. ....They were swinging iron bars on lengths of rope at one stage." Read the full story, including a quote from the Countryside Alliance, here. The story has since been picked up by several media channels including the Daily Telegraph, the Mirror, the Daily Mail, the Express (which called the attack "chilling) and Breitbart News - the attack has shocked and appalled people from all quarters whether pro or anti hunting. As the Countryside Alliance's Jill Grieve said to Breitbart News: "What happened on Saturday is part of an ongoing investigation and we wish Mike well in his recovery. This attack can be condemned by all sides whether pro-hunting or not, there is simply no justification. Carrying iron bars, wearing masks to conceal identity, spraying hounds and causing injuries such as Mike sustained shows the face of modern animal rights activity. It is thankfully not widespread but is a violent exercise in hating people, not loving animals".