The huntsman of a boarding school beagle pack pleaded guilty to illegal hunting last week, after shocking drone footage caught them killing a hare and then congratulating each other.
Phillip Kennedy, 48, kennel huntsman of the Stowe Beagles – the hunt of the prestigious Buckinghamshire private school of the same name – pleaded guilty to the illegal hunting of a wild mammal with dogs contrary to the Hunting Act 2005 at Northampton Magistrates Court on Thursday 4th June.
Drone footage of the incident shows a hare being chased by the pack across a field, as hunt members watch on, before the hare is caught and killed by beagles on a fence line.
Within moments of the kill, three hunt members – some believed to be schoolboys – reach the scene and immediately shake hands to congratulate each other. Shortly afterwards, more hunt members arrive and the celebrations are repeated as the pack of beagles ‘break up’ the killed hare.
The incident happened on land belonging to Crockwell Farm, a wedding venue and B&B near Eydon in Northamptonshire, on 13th November 2025 after the hunt met there.
Kennedy, listed on the Stowe School’s website with the ‘Stowe Beagles’ position in the ‘Games Department,’ was fined a pathetic £258, with a victim surcharge of £103 and CPS costs of £585.
Stowe is one of a number of exclusive schools and colleges that has its own pack of beagles, offering hunting as part of their extra curricular activities. Students take on active positions in the hunt such as hunting hounds, whipping-in or taking positions on the hunt mastership.
A Hunt Saboteurs Association spokesperson said, “Once again, we have another court case and more footage shining a light on the illegal activities of hunts today, this time a hare killing beagle pack.”
“The sick celebrations of these hunters lay bare their intent. But what makes this case even more shocking is the fact that school children were not only present and participating, but that the illegal activity was organised and facilitated by their school!”
“This isn’t just an illegal hunting and animal cruelty issue – it’s a safeguarding issue.”
“We need to see urgent action by the Government, bringing forward a real ban on hunting with hounds, and for school hunts such as the Stowe Beagles to be shut down with immediate effect.”
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