combat_claire
Well-Known Member
HUNTING PROTEST - SEVEN IN COURT
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14:00 - 03 August 2006
Anti-hunt demonstrators from Wells appeared in court this week accused of attacking members of the Mendip Farmers' Hunt.
Margaret Purchase, aged 42, and Shaun Baker, 45, both of Mullins Close, are charged with using or threatening unlawful violence during an incident on Saturday 18 March. Their conduct, alleged prosecutor Nick Barr, was such as would "cause a person of reasonable firmness to fear for his or her personal safety".
They appeared alongside five youths from the Wells and Frome areas, all under 16 years of age, who were not required to enter pleas and magistrates in Frome made an order that their identities should not be disclosed.
Mr Barr told the court that Mrs Purchase and Mr Baker were members of the League Against Cruel Sports.
He alleged that the charges related to an incident on Saturday 18 March, when a Land Rover Discovery containing Mendip Farmers' Hunt supporters was attacked as it descended Bristol Hill, entering Wells near a wooded area known as The Combe at the entrance to College Road.
Magistrates decided to send the trial to crown court and the hearing was adjourned for eight weeks to allow for the preparation of crown court committal papers. All of the accused were granted unconditional bail and asked to return to court in September.
The Mendip Farmers' Hunt covers a wide area of Avon and Somerset including Shepton Mallet and Wells and has remained active since the Government banned fox hunting with hounds.
It now uses fake scents for dogs to pursue, known as drag or trail hunting, with regular meetings continuing to take place during its hunting season which runs from November into late March.
The League Against Cruel Sports was established in 1924 and is the UK's leading animal welfare group in campaigning to end occurrences of cruelty to animals in hunting and other sports.
(Western Gazette 2006)
Funny how this never made the national press. Peaceful old LACS...
Next Story | Previous Story | Back to list
14:00 - 03 August 2006
Anti-hunt demonstrators from Wells appeared in court this week accused of attacking members of the Mendip Farmers' Hunt.
Margaret Purchase, aged 42, and Shaun Baker, 45, both of Mullins Close, are charged with using or threatening unlawful violence during an incident on Saturday 18 March. Their conduct, alleged prosecutor Nick Barr, was such as would "cause a person of reasonable firmness to fear for his or her personal safety".
They appeared alongside five youths from the Wells and Frome areas, all under 16 years of age, who were not required to enter pleas and magistrates in Frome made an order that their identities should not be disclosed.
Mr Barr told the court that Mrs Purchase and Mr Baker were members of the League Against Cruel Sports.
He alleged that the charges related to an incident on Saturday 18 March, when a Land Rover Discovery containing Mendip Farmers' Hunt supporters was attacked as it descended Bristol Hill, entering Wells near a wooded area known as The Combe at the entrance to College Road.
Magistrates decided to send the trial to crown court and the hearing was adjourned for eight weeks to allow for the preparation of crown court committal papers. All of the accused were granted unconditional bail and asked to return to court in September.
The Mendip Farmers' Hunt covers a wide area of Avon and Somerset including Shepton Mallet and Wells and has remained active since the Government banned fox hunting with hounds.
It now uses fake scents for dogs to pursue, known as drag or trail hunting, with regular meetings continuing to take place during its hunting season which runs from November into late March.
The League Against Cruel Sports was established in 1924 and is the UK's leading animal welfare group in campaigning to end occurrences of cruelty to animals in hunting and other sports.
(Western Gazette 2006)
Funny how this never made the national press. Peaceful old LACS...