Guilty! Yet Another Huntsman Convicted By Sab Footage

Huntsman Guy Landau of the Weston & Banwell Harriers with West Somerset Vale Hunt (WBHWSV) pleaded guilty to a Hunting Act Offence at Taunton Magistrates Court on 19th May 2025.

The conviction was a result of drone footage from Mendip Hunt Sabs combined with Somerset Sabs’ handheld footage that showed unequivocal, blatant cub hunting in East Huntspill on 2nd October 2024.

The shocking footage showed a fox miraculously escaping the jaws of hounds after a pursuit in and out of bushes that lasted over fifteen minutes. The chase only ended when the fox broke covert and ran past a Somerset Sab, who intervened to stop the pursuing hounds and save the fox’s life.

Master Huntsman Guy Landau was in charge of the hounds at the time. He was heard encouraging the hounds to continue the chase and did not try to stop them, even when the fox ran directly in front of him multiple times. Following Guy’s admission of guilt, he was handed a £400 fine and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £160 surcharge. Three other active participants in the hunt who surrounded and even pointed to the fox, “holding up” in classic cub hunting style, received no legal repercussions despite their involvement being highlighted to the police.

Kennelman Paul Martin was one of a group of four -including Landau – first seen surrounding the bushes where the terrified fox tried to hide. The fox darted between bushes directly in front of him, but he did not use his powers to call the hounds away. Also in the group was foot follower John Churches, who pointed to the fox and helped block the fox’s escape routes from the bushes. Hunt rider Richard Nicholls also helped to surround the covert and would have seen the fox from his position. By “holding up” the patch of covert, the four men showed intention to surround and turn the fox towards the hounds, actively and illegally cub hunting. Despite their clear involvement in criminal activity, none of the three other men in this group were charged.

The meagre fine handed to Guy Landau is totally incomparable to the fear and suffering the hunted fox endured on the 2nd October 2024. However, the footage caused irreparable damage to the already failing WBHWSV hunt. Rarely amassing more than a handful of riders at the time, marred by infighting, and with the constant presence of sabs, October’s drone footage and resulting police investigation was the final nail in the coffin. The WBHWSV hunt fell apart as internal divisions deepened, infighting intensified and the last dregs of hunt followers drifted away. Guy Landau’s Master Huntsman job was up for grabs after barely half a season and his vacant position was never filled. The hunt kennels now lie empty as the hunt with the longest acronym in Somerset has apparently amalgamated again, this time with the Taunton Vale Harriers.

The new hunting season is yet to reveal if this “merger” is anything other than a disbanded hunt in denial over its demise. Having witnessed persistent illegal hunting and several kills at the WBHWSV, and with sabs subjected to serious violence from their followers, this hunt’s consequent downfall is a much greater victory than the tiny fine amounting from this court case.

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