The League Against Cruel Sports has just launched a private prosecution against six members of the Devon and Cornwall based Lamerton Hunt. The League was left with no option but to bring a private prosecution against hunt members after Devon and Cornwall police failed to deal with the evidence supplied by the League’s investigations team. The League contacted the police in May but they did not respond for two months and despite several follow up enquiries; they delayed so long the League was left with no option but to commence proceedings itself. The League has obtained written independent legal advice that there is sufficient evidence to provide a realistic prospect of conviction and that it would be in the public interest to prosecute. Summonses have been served alleging an offence under Section 1 of the Hunting Act 2004 in relation to an incident which occurred on the 26th March 2014 when the Lamerton Hunt met at Holdstrong Bungalow, near Lydford in Devon. Joint master George Moyse, huntsman David Lewis, whipper-in Steve Craddock and terrier men Gilmore Lewis, Stephen Mitchell and Wayne Bartlett of the Lamerton Hunt have been summonsed to appear at Plymouth Magistrates’ Court on 21st November 2014.
The League has also lodged a formal complaint about the actions of Devon and Cornwall police with the Chief Constable, Shaun Sawyer.