Dorset Hunt Thugs Smash Sabs’ Vehicles In Cowardly Attack

Thugs from the Dorset-based Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt targeted two saboteurs’ houses in a cowardly evening raid last night (5th October). The thugs smashed up vehicles belonging to the activists, breaking windows and slashing tyres and even attempted to gain entry to the sabs’ houses.

This attack comes as the hunt has faced sustained pressure from North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs and Weymouth Animal Rights over the past few weeks as the groups have saved many fox cubs from the hunt’s hounds during the ‘cubbing’ season.

The BSVH have a long history of violence and illegal hunting, with then huntsman Mark Doggrell having notoriously ridden over a saboteur in 2014, causing her to sustain broken ribs and a collapsed lung. Just a few days ago, three masked thugs from the hunt assaulted saboteurs and stole their cameras, fearful that their illegal hunting would be caught on camera.

The hunt blatantly and openly hunt foxes as a matter of routine. On just one day this week, five foxes were aided to safety by saboteurs, including one who had been marked to ground by the hounds.

An HSA spokesperson commented:

“The continuous violent actions of the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt and their constant illegal hunting of foxes have been facilitated by the inaction of Dorset Police. Once again the BSVH have shown themselves to be nothing more than a rural organised crime gang, yet Dorset Police seemingly show little interest in bringing this gang – who have caused so much misery to the local people and the wildlife of Dorset – to justice.

We commend the hard work of North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs, Weymouth Animal Rights and the many other sab groups in the South West in directly opposing this thuggery and saving countless lives in the process.”