Last September ‘rent a thugs’ appeared at the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale (BSV) Hunt, assaulting Sabs from Weymouth Animal Rights (WAR) and stealing equipment. They have now been charged with assault and theft by Dorset Police.
Here Sabs from WAR tell us what happened.
“There’s always been aggression with hunt support, sadly it comes with the territory. Although it says a lot about what’s often referred to as a “Sport of Kings”, that when Sabs go out with the sole purpose of saving foxes, they’re half expecting to have to contend with the level of violence associated with football terrace hooligans in the 1980’s.

Towards the end of last season WAR were ‘blessed’ with new supporter thugs at the South Dorset Hunts, which raised the level of violence. This resulted in two Sabs being seriously injured and hospitalised, as well as Sab’s homes and families being threatened. Soon after these creatures arrived, Sabs were targeted at home, with garages broken into, 19 tyres slashed on Boxing Day 2022 and disembowelled foxes thrown into a garden.
This season the same thugs swapped allegiance and were supporting the BSV Hunt. From the first day they were out, it was clear that their mission was the same “Sab bashing”. WAR’s first encounter with them resulted in a Sab suffering broken ribs, a smashed camcorder and a radio stolen. WAR’s second encounter resulted in a camcorder being stolen, although North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs got the bashing that time.

Thankfully Dorset Police Rural Crime Team took the offences seriously. It’s taken a long time, but the tide’s definitely turning; slowly but surely, Dorset Police’s stance on crime associated with fox hunting is starting to catch up with the views of the majority of the public.
After extended and very diligent investigations by officers, two men have now been charged. Bail conditions were imposed upon their arrest in October and these are still in place, meaning that neither of them are allowed anywhere near a hunt until their court date on February 16th 2024.”
Thank you to Weymouth Animal Rights for this post, please support them at
Ko-fi.com/weymouthanimalrights.
Find out how you can get involved with our campaign to strengthen the Hunting Ban here.