UK: Four men convicted after illegal fox hunt in Dorset

https://www.southwestfarmer.co.uk/news/25081956.four-men-convicted-illegal-fox-hunt-dorset/

04/11/2025

Four men have been convicted after they engaged with an ‘illegal fox hunt’ at Pelsham Farm in Dorset, at an event led by the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt.

On December 4, 2023, the men were captured on film, by members of the public, hunting a fox with a pack of dogs.

The men are 23-year-old Conall McGrath, 60-year-old Andrew Osborne, 34-year-old Freddie Osbourne and 33-year-old George Pierce from Somerset.

Described by senior crown prosecutor, Adam Cooper, as a ‘violent death’ which was ‘deeply distressing and cruel’, the four men allowed the pack of dogs to attack and then kill the fox.

It is said that the dogs attacked the fox with the ‘encouragement’ of three of the men.

The ‘hounds were allowed’ to attack the fox for 45 seconds before a hunting horn was sounded, indicating for the dogs to kill the fox.

A spokesperson for Dorset Police said: “The fox was killed by the pursuing hounds.”

A spokesperson for the Crown Prosecution Service said: “The footage captured Andrew Osborne flushing the fox from undergrowth, which the hounds then pursued with the encouragement of McGrath, Pierce and Freddie Osborne.

“The hounds captured and were allowed to attack the fox for 45 seconds, without any attempt by the men to call them off, before Pierce sounded a hunting horn to indicate a kill.

“McGrath and Freddie Osborne then disposed the fox’s carcass in a hedge.”

At the trial, the men argued that the ‘chasing’ of the fox by the dogs was ‘unintentional and unplanned’.

A spokesperson for Crown Prosecution Service added: “However, the prosecution pieced together drone footage along with witness testimony and expert evidence to prove to the court that their actions were deliberate.”

Detective constable Steve Allen, of the Rural Crime Team, said: “Hunting mammals with dogs has been illegal since 2004.

“A few, very specific, exemptions apply.”

The men faced trial at Poole Magistrates’ Court and were all found guilty under section one of the Hunting Act 2004.

The group were ‘ultimately found guilty’ of hunting a wild mammal with dogs and two were ordered to pay £1,140 each, with the others ordered to pay £930 each.

Adam Cooper, a senior crown prosecutor with CPS Wessex, said: “The violent death this fox faced is deeply distressing and cruel.

“All involved were experienced hunt personnel, and we were able to demonstrate evidence of the defendants clearly in control of their hounds at other points during the day before intentionally engaging in this illegal fox hunt.

“We work closely with the police on all wildlife-related cases to make sure there is sufficient evidence to meet our legal test for prosecution.”