Huntsman encouraged hounds chasing fox, court told

Huntsman Neil Burton leaving Lincoln Magistrates' Court

Huntsman Neil Burton shouted and blew a horn to encourage hounds as they pursued a fox, a court heard.

Lincoln magistrates were shown footage of Mr Burton, filmed by the Lincolnshire Hunt Saboteurs, of an incident on 27 January on Riseholme Lane near the city.

However, the 59-year-old told police in interview he was trying to draw the hounds to him.

He has pleaded not guilty to hunting a wild animal.

Mr Burton was riding a white horse and, as huntsman, was in charge of the hounds with the Burton Hunt.

Keyly Hutchinson, from the hunt saboteur group, told the court she was driving and Mr Burton was in the road, in the way of their vehicle, saying “in a jovial way” his horse had run out of fuel.

She could see other people further along, too. A fox was spotted, running across the road, followed by hounds.

Ms Hutchinson said the hounds were “in cry”. She said this was a “spine-tingling” sound dogs make when they are following a live animal.

The video showed Mr Burton turning his horse around and riding through a hedgerow into a field with a wood to follow the hounds. He was heard shouting “get on, get on” and “hi hi”.

There were two horn sounds. One - a series of short blasts. The other a long blast, the court heard.

Whistle blows disputed

Expert witness Stewart Scull, a former experienced gamekeeper who has worked closely with hunts, had examined the video and told the court the shouts and the short, staccato blasts – also known as doubling - were designed to encourage the hounds.

He said he also heard three whistle blasts, which, in his experience, were used to indicate a fox on the move.

He also said it was not impossible but very difficult to stop hounds once they were in full cry.

“You would need whip-cracking and stern shouting,” he told the magistrates.

“I haven’t seen an attempt on that video to stop the hounds."

Defence solicitor Stephen Welford disputed there were any whistle blows.

Mr Welford produced a different video, which he said showed Mr Burton shortly after at the other end of the wood with the dogs.

And in a police interview in June, Mr Burton said he was shouting at the hounds to draw them to him.

He said he wanted to get them off the road and away from the hunt saboteurs.

The trial at Lincoln Magistrates' Court continues.

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