Mammal expert gives evidence in hunting trial

Your Expert Witness HuntIn May three members of the Crawley and Horsham Hunt were convicted of illegal hunting – the first such convictions in the county. Andrew Phillis, Neill Millard and Rachel Holdsworth were convicted of hunting foxes with dogs on two occasions in January last year, during which they were videoed by hunt monitors. The video footage was seen during the trial. All three were fined – between £500 and £1,000 – and ordered to pay costs. Charges against a fourth accused, a joint master of the hunt, were dropped during the trial.

The accused had denied they were chasing foxes, claiming they were trail hunting, but had denied the charges, saying they were out trail hunting ? following an artificially laid scent - and did not plan to hunt or kill any foxes. However, Crown Prosecutor Mark Bishop said: "The defendants claimed that the foxes seen on film being chased by the hunt's hounds were not being hunted intentionally and that the hounds were following an artificial scent.

"We were able to fully utilise footage from hunt monitors, which clearly showed a fox being pursued by hounds on two separate occasions within a week. Their pursuit and hunting of foxes was not accidental, but intentional."

Expert witness Professor Stephen Harris of the University of Bristol's Mammal Research Unit, told the court that he had seen the videos, and believed they showed foxhunting rather than trail hunting. "The hounds were so fast and so noisy", he is reported as saying, "that they must be following a very fresh trail."

A Sussex police spokesman said: "The introduction of the 2004 Hunting Act was extremely emotive on both sides of the hunting spectrum and continues to be strongly debated. Evidence was provided that the accused had committed offences under the act and following early consultation with the CPS an investigation commenced and subsequently charges were made.

"As we have seen, District Judge Stephen Nichol has ruled that they are guilty of these offences and we are satisfied with his decision. It is the duty of the police to uphold the law and wherever offences such as this come to light, we will seek to bring them to justice."

The three are expected to appeal against their convictions.