HSA news release 8th January 2005

Women attacked with fence post by fox hunt supporter in Sussex

Four women protesting against the Crawley and Horsham Hunt today (8 January) near Thakeham in West Sussex have been seriously injured after a hunt supporter first threw a bucket of liquid through their vehicle window and then attacked them with a wooden pole.

15 hunt saboteurs in total had attended the hunt to save foxes using hunting horns and harmless scent dulling sprays. The back window of one of their cars was smashed in and 4 women were seriously injured by a hunt supporter with a wooden pole. All the saboteurs present were threatened. One of the saboteurs is thought to have received a broken arm, another has a suspected broken elbow.

One of the saboteurs, Jaine, said "He just went mental. First he was throwing a bucket full of liquid at us and then he started attacking us. He even drove after us to smash the back window of the car"

Police and ambulance crews attended the scene and the injured saboteurs were attended by paramedics and taken by ambulance to hospital.

A hunt supporter has been arrested by police.

Photographic and video footage available.

Ends.

Timeline: the recent wave of violence against anti-hunt protestors since the Hunting Act was passed...

• 18 November 2004
  Parliament passes Hunting Bill. Hunting to be illegal on 19th February.
• 20 November
  3 saboteurs injured. One has to undergo emergency surgery to save his finger. South Devon Hunt, Devon
• 27 November
  Saboteur receives 5 stitches to head wound after attack. High Peak Harriers, Derbyshire
  17 year old saboteur receives broken nose after repeatedly headbutted. Crawley and Horsham Hunt, West Sussex
• 4 December
  Saboteurs threatened by terrierman wearing balaclava. Numerous assaults on saboteurs including a broken nose. Essex Farmers and Union/East Essex Hunt, Essex
• 11 December
  Saboteur's wrist broken in 2 places by terrierman. Essex Hunt, Essex Saboteur threatened by hunt supporter in front of police. High Peak Harriers, Derbyshire
• 18 December
  Saboteur ridden over by hunt rider twice. Essex Farmers and Union Hunt, Essex.
  Saboteurs punched and equipment stolen. Attempts made to smash saboteur's van window with log. Van whipped, kicked and thumped. Attempts made to drag saboteurs from van. Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt, Dorset.
• 24 December
  2 cars smashed up and dead fox left on passenger seat of car. Chiddingfold Leconfield and Cowdray Hunt, West Sussex
• 27 December
  Saboteurs threatened with knife. One ridden down. Hunt supporters then armed themselves with iron bars and sticks. Weston and Banwell Harriers, Somerset.
  2 saboteurs rugby tackled to ground. Puckeridge Hunt, Suffolk.
• 31 December
  12 hunt saboteurs injured by mob of 30 thugs. East Essex Hunt, Essex.
• 1 January 2005
  Pregnant woman taken to hospital with head injuries after being whipped and ridden over twice by hunt staff. Essex Hunt, Essex.
• 3 January
  Hunt monitor's car destroyed in arson attack. West Sussex
• 4 January
  2 saboteurs receive facial injuries and equipment is stolen. Surrey Union Hunt, Surrey.
• 8 January
  4 female saboteurs attacked receiving limb injuries / fractures, vehicle badly damaged. Crawley & Horsham Hunt, West Sussex.