HSA news release 17th February 2005

First hunter to appear in court after hunting ban

The first hunter to appear in court after the ban on hunting takes effect will appear at Chesterfield Magistrates Court on Monday 21st February.

Andrew Cass, Ex-Joint Master of the High Peak Hunt, based near Buxton, Derbyshire, will appear to enter a plea to the charge that he assaulted a female hunt saboteur at a meet of the hunt in November 2004.

An ambulance was called to treat a head injury at the scene, and the saboteur required 5 stiches to the wound. Police were also in attendance and Cass was arrested at the scene. It is believed that the hunt have since asked for Andrew Cass's resignation as a recognised staff member of the hunt, and that he tendered his resignation as requested.

Paul Timpson, spokesperson for the North West Hunt Saboteurs Association, commented "We are very pleased that the police have taken this matter seriously, and hope that justice will prevail in this case. It is a sad individual who is so desperate to chase to a wild animal for sport that he feels the need to viciously attack someone who seeks to prevent him from doing so.

"This case is all the more shocking as the attack happened before the hunt had even started hunting that day. We fully expect the hunts in the area to pack up for good very shortly, despite their claims that they will continue, and that time can't come soon enough for both the animals they hunt and our members who are subject to such attacks."

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 broken rib, 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.
• 15 January
  Saboteurs threatened and attacked, vehicle damaged. Cotswold Vale Hunt, Gloucestershire.
• 20 January
  Hunt supporter armed with a metal spike punctures sab Landrover door, barely missing the driver's leg. Duke of Beaufort's Hunt, Wiltshire
• 22 January
  60 year old female aboteurs ridden down - receives head and neck injuries. Dunston Harriers, Norfolk.
• 29 January
  2 hunt ‘stewards’ arrested after attack on hunt saboteurs. Avon Vale Fox Hunt, Wiltshire.
• 05 February
  2 hunt saboteurs injured, 15 attacked by 30 hunt thugs. East Kent Fox Hunt, Kent.
• 05 February
  Hunt saboteurs threatened with violence by hunt followers in front of police, obstruction and theft from motor vehicle ignored. Hampshire Fox Hunt, Hampshire.
• 09 February
  Saboteurs hit by quad bike, ridden down and whipped. Essex Farmers and Union Hunt
• 12 February
  Saboteur's finger broken, female sab had head held under water by hunt supporters, female saboteur repeatedly kicked in the head and head stamped on suffering a suspected broken jaw, gang of over 40 hunt supporters ambushed saboteurs. Essex Foxhounds, Essex.

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