Three employees of the Derwent hunt in North Yorkshire have been charged with illegal hunting.

Huntsman Sean McClarron, kennel huntsman Jason Marles (now huntsman at the Eggesford Hunt) and whip Damian Readman are due to appear at Scarborough Magistrates Court on 22nd May.

This follows footage obtained on the 1st November 2016 by members of Sheffield Hunt Saboteurs, at a meet in Wilton in North Yorkshire. Towards the end of the day sabs filmed a fox being bolted from underground and then chased by the pack of hounds. The law stipulates that if a fox is dug out it must not be released to be hunted further. 

Lee Moon, Spokesperson for the Hunt Saboteurs Association, commented: “It’s telling that in practically the same week that the Tories are promising a vote on repeal, the hunting community are showing how above the law they believe themselves to be. Who else, apart from the Conservatives, would choose to reward law breakers by repealing the very law they so blatantly ignore? 

“Hunt saboteurs were around long before the hunting act and we’ll continue to protect wildlife whatever the self serving lackeys of the Countryside Alliance in Westminster decide to do next.”

The news comes after high profile reports of violent assaults on hunt saboteurs committed by huntspeople earlier this year.