A Countryside Alliance supporter has been convicted of attacking a hunt saboteur in clashes on the last day before hunting with dogs was banned on February last year.
Farm worker, Wayne Spencer, 39, of Oakhurst Lane, Billingshurst, West Sussex, was found guilty of assaulting Simon Clear but cleared of actual bodily harm.
The incident happened after the final meet of Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray Hunt at Petworth Park, West Sussex. A judge fined Spencer £400 with £700 costs at Lewes Crown Court on Friday 25th August 06. He was cleared of unlawfully wounding another protester, Carol Tibbets.
The anti hunt victims of the assault believe the very poor presentation of evidence (including sub-standard copying of video material by police) was behind Spencer’s acquittal on the more serious charges.
The incident occurred at Pheasant Copse, Petworth, West Sussex during a meet of the Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray Hunt. The land is owned by Lord Leconfield.
An ITN cameraman was present during the incident, but forced to run for safety after being threatened that his camera would be “wrapped around his fucking head” by Spencer. Seconds after that outburst, there was an ambush by a number of hunt supporters, including mounted followers.
Hunt Details
Source: Cruelty Exposed
