Joint master and huntsman of the Middleton Hunt Tom Holt appeared at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court on the 3rd September after being charged with hunting a wild mammal with dogs at Knapton Lodge, West Knapton in North Yorkshire on the 19th February 2014. He denied the alleged Hunting Act offence and the case was adjourned for a case management hearing on 25th September 2014. Holt was excused attendance from the next court hearing at the request of Stephen Welford, defending. Magistrates agreed to consider whether a District Judge should be appointed to hear the case. The case is based on evidence supplied by the League Against Cruel Sports and further investigations carried out by North Yorkshire police.
UPDATE: After the case management hearing on the 25th September a district judge has been appointed to hear the case. The next case management hearing is on the 23rd October 2014 at Scarborough Magistrates’ Court.