We are now in the final week of the consultation into banning ‘trail hunting’ and despite hunts professing their innocence they are continuing to rack up convictions for hunting offences and violence. As well as the recent conviction of the huntsman from the Stowe Beagles for killing a hare, the Albrighton & Woodland Hunt’s huntsman and whipper in have both received sentences for extreme violence against a hunt monitor.
On Thursday 11th of June both the huntsman and whipper in for the Albrighton & Woodland Hunt appeared in court on assault charges after they launched a vicious and unprovoked attack on a member of Shropshire Wildlife Monitors in 2024. The pair initially appeared in court on the 18th of March 2025 where whipper in Phillipa Ward, who has a history of assaulting sabs, pleaded guilty, while convicted huntsman Paul Larby pleaded not guilty.
The violent attack saw Larby and Ward blocking the monitors vehicle with their pickup truck before they approached and attacked her on a public car park. Paul Larby, who was defended by the usual blood sports solicitor Stephen Welford, was found guilty by magistrates and was ordered to pay £2110 in court costs and compensation. While Ward was ordered to pay £1001.
A spokesperson for Shropshire Wildlife Monitors said, “It’s good that finally the Albrighton Hunts huntsman and the whip have been held to account for their continued violent actions. “
Prior to this violent attack Larby aged 67, and Ward aged 37, already had a reputation for misconduct and violence as well as the Albrighton & Woodland Hunt currently being subject to a Community Protection Warning (CPW).
In February 2023 while illegally hunting in Badger, Staffordshire, Phillipa rode her horse at a sab before attacking them with her whip and riding off. The hounds had been rampaging all over a private garden before Phillipa threw a tantrum. A sab from Staffordshire Hunt Sabs noticed blood on one of the hounds and when they began filming this, on a public road, Phillipa began shouting, swearing and riding her horse at the sab. As they raised their arm to protect themselves Phillipa struck them on the hand and caused extensive damage to their camera. Footage from Staffordshire Hunt Sabs can be seen here.
The incident was reported to the Police and Phillipa admitted to common assault, however she claimed self-defence. West Merica Police explained that while they had viewed footage “matching the sequence of events” as detailed by the sab, no further action was going to be taken and so Phillipa was set free to continue attacking those who expose their illegal hunting. Maybe this is why she felt emboldened to go on and offend again.
In 2022 the pair joined the Albrighton & Woodland Hunt after leaving the Grove and Rufford Hunt under a bit of a cloud and it only took them two years to be issued with a Community Protection Warning from Staffordshire Police due to their conduct. Details of the CPW were obtained via a Freedom of Information Request that disclosed that it was issued in March 2024. It goes on to detail incidents of trespass, “damage to property” and “harassment, alarm and distress to residents and landowners,” as well as “killing both a muntjac deer and a fox” in September and December 2023.
Shockingly, another revelation revealed in the Freedom of Information request was that this wasn’t the first CPW to be issued to this hunt. They had been given one five years earlier in February 2019. Since the initial copy of the CPW was obtained a further heavily redacted copy was released in July 2025.
However, despite the list of conditions, the Albrighton & Woodland Hunt have continued to behave just as they have always done; with impunity. A spokesperson for the HSA said, “It shows again the intrinsic link between hunts and violence towards others in the community.”
On the 15th of February 2025 the hunts behaviour resulted in three ambulances who were trying to attend a serious road traffic collision having to stop, to prevent further accidents due to unsupervised hounds running around on the busy A458.
Despite this continuation of disregard for the CPW, which expires in March 2027, no further action has been taken. It is truly staggering how the CPW has not been escalated to a Community Protection Notice and the fact that it hasn’t, has only seemed to embolden them further.
Since the arrival of Larby and Ward the Albrighton & Woodland Hunt has and still is diminishing. With dwindling field riders, a notorious reputation and criminal convictions under their belt this hunt is a prime example of why a full ban on hunting is needed now.
The consultation into banning “trail hunting” closes on the 18th of June 2026, make sure you’ve had your say.
The government has launched a public consultation on Trail Hunting – this is our chance to stop cruel hunting for good. You can read the HSA’s guidance and take part in the consultation here. The deadline is 18th June 2026 – make sure your voice is heard.
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