Derby Telegraph

Man in court after hunt dogs chase terrified calf

DOGS GOT INTO A FIELD WHERE THE ANIMAL WAS WITH ITS MOTHER

- By MATTHEW LODGE matthew.lodge@reachplc.com

A MAN has been prosecuted over an incident which saw a terrified calf and its mother chased by hunting dogs.

Video of the incident, which took place on November 4 last year, showed the animal running for its life and trying to avoid a large group of hunting dogs.

The dogs, which belonged to the High Peak Hunt, had been running a trail in Hurdlow, in the Peak District, when they entered a field close to the High Peak Trail.

The incident was captured on video by Nottingham Hunt Saboteurs, who released it on social media.

The video, which was shared thousands of times, shows the mother getting away, while the calf continues to be pursued by the hounds before being forced to jump over a wall.

It shows the chase being brought to an end when a member of the hunt, who was on a horse, arrives in the field to stop the dogs.

Now a 72-year-old man has appeared in court in relation to the incident.

Phillip Watts had been charged with, and pleaded not guilty to, being a person in charge of a dog worrying livestock.

However, shortly before his trial was set to begin at Northern Derbyshire Magistrate­s’ Court on Monday, August 23, he changed his plea to guilty.

Watts, of Alport, near Bakewell, was given a six-month conditiona­l discharge by the magistrate­s.

He was also ordered to pay £85 in costs to the Crown Prosecutio­n Service and a victim surcharge of £22.

Following the incident a spokespers­on for the High Peak Hunt said: “Following a highly unusual incident that took place on November 4, in which some young hounds became distracted while carrying out lawful trail hunting activities, the High Peak Hunt can confirm that the hunt staff stopped the hounds as soon as possible and that they have never experience­d anything of this nature in the past.

“Throughout the hunting day, the hounds are constantly distracted by the activities of the hunt saboteurs who have a history of shouting or blowing hunting horns and spraying unknown substances around the hounds in order to distract them.

“Our profession­al hunt staff, who devote their lives to their hounds, take pride in the education of the hounds which includes introducin­g them to animals, children and other hazards that they might encounter during the hunting day.

“The hunt can confirm that they have been in contact with the farmer to ensure the welfare of the cow and calf, and will, of course, take steps to ensure they avoid any possibilit­y of a recurrence.”

Nottingham Hunt Saboteurs said they rejected any insinuatio­n they had caused the incident, saying they were nowhere near the hunt when it took place.

The High Peak Hunt can confirm that the hunt staff stopped the hounds as soon as possible. Spokespers­on

 ??  ?? A still from the video taken by Nottingham Hunt Saboteurs
A still from the video taken by Nottingham Hunt Saboteurs

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