Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt Member Guilty of ABH

Last week, sabs from North Dorset spent three consecutive days in Bournemouth Crown Court giving evidence and victim statements. On Thursday 4th April, a jury unanimously found Charlie Mayo, a member of the Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt (BSV), guilty of Actual Bodily Harm (ABH).

The attack took place 28 months ago, in December 2021. North Dorset Sabs were at a meet of the BSV when hounds went into cry. As sabs approached a gateway, hunt rider Edward Doggrel used his horse to try and deter them. Charlie Mayo then stated “you are not coming over the gate mate”. Edward Doggrel used his whip to knock the victim’s hat off his head, Charlie Mayo then struck the back of the sab’s head with the bone end of his whip. The sab suffered a 3cm laceration to the scalp, requiring hospital treatment.

The jury unanimously found Charlie guilty of ABH and he was ordered to pay a substantial amount of court costs and compensation to the victim, avoiding a custodial sentence.

The judge described Mayo as a ‘man of good character’ in a character reference that was provided to the court. In response North Dorset Hunt Sabs stated:

“To say that ANY members of this family are of good character is laughable. Both Charlie and his other brother, who rides with the hunt, have form for being arrogant, foul mouthed and violent on a weekly basis. Several assaults at the hands of Charlie have taken place since this one in 2021. Although plenty reported to the police, they were deemed to not have enough video evidence to pursue.”

Cruelty runs in the family

Cruelty runs in the Mayo family, with his Hunt Master father Anthony and brother Henry also riding with the BSV.

In December 2022, Harry Mayo, another fox hunter, filmed a sickening video of the notorious Avon Vale Hunt digging a fox out of a badger sett and throwing it to the hounds, with another fox then being chased by hounds.

The courageous North Dorset sab who endured the assault stated:

“Justice has finally been served. The jury’s unanimous decision evidently represents the wider public’s increasing distain for hunting. It is yet another nail in coffin for the thuggish BSV and for hunting as a whole, the culture is crumbling, and they know it.

The scar on my head will forever serve as a reminder that no matter what violent, desperate, below the belt tactics the hunt use, we will never stop protecting wildlife.

I want to thank my comrades at NDHS for their ongoing support, the HSA in general and everyone who has shown their support, love and respect throughout.”

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