A master huntsman and his assistant have appeared in Bristol Magistrates’ Court to deny allegations of hunting a fox on the Duke of Beaufort’s Badminton Estate in Gloucestershire.
William Bryer, 49, the master huntsman, and Mitch Prosser, 28, the whipper-in, face charges relating to an incident on 20 December last year, during which it is claimed a fox was pursued and killed by hounds belonging to the Beaufort Hunt.
Anthony Tuck, 51, has also been charged with encouraging the offence by allegedly retrieving the fox and assisting in the disposal of the carcass.
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During the hearing on Wednesday, their defence lawyer, Stephen Welford, entered not guilty pleas on behalf of all three defendants. The accused were not required to attend the court hearing.
Prosecutor Michael Collins told the court that the charges arose from the event on the Badminton Estate, asserting that the fox was hunted and killed by the Beaufort Hunt hounds. He said Bryer and Prosser were responsible for controlling the hounds but failed to stop them from pursuing the fox.
The three men, hailing from Badminton and Chippenham, are due to stand trial over two days on 21 and 22 April next year at Bristol Magistrates’ Court.
On Boxing Day, six days after the alleged incident, William Bryer spoke publicly at the Badminton Estate, expressing concern over the Government’s plans to ban trail hunting. He described the countryside as being “under assault and siege” and acknowledged the contentious nature of the ongoing debate around hunting.
Addressing the crowd, Bryer said:
“It is somewhat ironic, is it not, that the Government choose to announce their intentions to destroy trail hunting just at a time of year when we reaffirm our beliefs.”
He urged supporters to stand united in defence of their practices, culture, and connection to the land, concluding with an optimistic message inspired by a popular song:
“Hunting has a future, hunting will endure.”
The forthcoming trial will seek to establish the facts surrounding the December incident on the Duke of Beaufort’s estate, amid ongoing national discussions about the future of hunting in the UK.