Devon and Somerset Staghounds members prosecuted for illegal hunting

Three members of the Devon and Somerset Staghounds are being prosecuted for illegally hunting stags with dogs. The defendants face a total of four charges of hunting a wild mammal with a dog, contrary to Section 1 of the Hunting Act 2004 and relate to two separate incidences of alleged illegal hunting. David Greenwood and Rupert Andrews, joint masters for the hunt, are each charged with hunting a wild mammal with a dog, contraty to Section 1 of the Hunting Act 2004, in relation to an alleged incident at a hunt meet at Warren’s Farm, Simonsbath in Somerset on the 14th September 2013. David Greenwood faces a second charge of hunting a wild mammal with a dog, contrary to Section 1 of the Hunting Act, along with huntsman Donald Summersgill in relation to a separate incident alleged to have taken place after the hunt had met at Coppleham Cross on the 24th October 2013. The case is based on evidence supplied by the League Against Cruel Sports and further investigations carried out by Avon and Somerset police. All three defendants have pleaded “not guilty” to the charges. The case has been listed for trial at Yeovil Magistrates’ Court on the 2nd February 2015 and is expected to last ten days.