Kimblewick Hunt Terrier Men found Guilty of Animal Cruelty

Hunt Saboteurs Association News Release 30^th October 2019

Mark Vincent and Ian Parkinson have been found guilty of keeping a fox captive and inflicting suffering upon it in breach of the Animal Welfare Act. Both men were employed by the Kimblewick Hunt at the time of the offence on 1^st January this year. The trial took place at Oxford Magistrates Court and the two will be sentenced on 26^th November. The Judge in the case advised the defendants to expect a custodial sentence.

The prosecution came about after footage was passed to the Hunt Saboteurs Association by the Covert Film Unit showing the two men releasing a captive fox to be chased and killed by the Kimblewick hunts hounds. Their actions not only cause unnecessary harm to the fox but are also carried out to facilitate illegal hunting.

The footage was filmed on New Years Day when the hunt met at Moreton, Thame, Oxon.  It shows the hunt terrier men using draining rods to force the fox, that they’ve been holding captive, out of a drainage pipe then being thrown into the wood for hounds to chase. The terriermen can clearly be heard communicating with the huntsman agreeing when the best time is to release the fox which is given a brief head start so that the hunt riders experience a chase rather than a quick kill.

Lee Moon, Spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, stated: “We’re pleased that justice has been done and look forward to Vincent and Parkinson receiving the prison sentence their actions deserve.

What we also want to see is further prosecutions against the huntsman, Hunt masters and the Kimblewick Hunt itself. This was clearly a criminal conspiracy between the two defendants and the rest of the hunt to release a captive fox to be illegally hunted and all those involved should be punished. We also expect the Countryside Alliance to condemn this hunt and for the Masters of Foxhounds Association to kick them out of the association. Anything less will be tacit approval of animal cruelty and illegal hunting.”