Huntsman found guilty of chasing fox

A man has been found guilty of fox hunting in the first conviction of its kind in Lincolnshire.

Neil Burton, the huntsman of the Burton Hunt, was fined £1,490 following a two-day trial at Lincoln Magistrates' Court.

The court was shown footage of Burton, filmed by the Lincolnshire Hunt Saboteurs, shouting and blowing a horn to encourage hounds as they pursued a fox.

Pamela Newman, chairman of the bench, said: "Mr Burton knows his hounds intimately and knew they were in full cry. He encouraged them."

Burton, who has been with the Burton Hunt since 2005, was charged with illegally hunting a wild mammal.

The 59-year-old had previously denied a charge relating to the incident on 27 January at Riseholme Lane, near Lincoln.

During the trial, the court heard from Stewart Scull, a wildlife and countryside management consultant, that Burton’s shouts and short, staccato horn calls were encouraging the hounds to hunt.

But Burton, of Riseholme Lane, denied this. “I was encouraging the hounds to come to me,” he said.

He said the horn calls were to collect the dogs coming from behind.

“I wanted to stop my hounds, I was riding to get their head. If I could get in front of them, that stops them.”

In cross-examination, prosecutor Paul Wood told Burton that leaving his position on the road was at odds with his assertion that he was looking after the dogs’ safety.

“You were not making attempts to call them back. You were attempting to excite them," he said, to which Burton replied, "no".

Passing sentence, Mrs Newman acknowledged Burton's previous good character but concluded he had encouraged the hounds.

Det Con Aaron Flint, of Lincolnshire Police's rural crime action team, said: “We simply will not tolerate illegal fox hunting in Lincolnshire, it is a barbaric and savage activity.

"I hope this conviction sends a clear message that we will take anyone to court who... has taken part in such a cruel and primitive pursuit."

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