Jacob Whalley, whipper-in of the Fitzwilliam Hunt pleaded guilty to hunting a wild mammal with dogs on 4 July. His conviction is the latest in an increasingly long line of hunters deciding that the weight of evidence against them meant that they would be fighting a losing battle in court. Whalley has previously been convicted of battery in another hunting incident.
Meanwhile, Northants Hunt Sabs have been holding creative demonstrations outside Summer fundraising events held by the notoriously violent Cottesmore Hunt. Read on to find out more.
A third conviction for the Fitzwilliam hunt
On 4 July Fitzwilliam Hunt whipper-in Jacob Whalley pleaded guilty to charges of hunting a wild mammal with dogs. This is the third time a Fitzwilliam Hunt employee has been convicted of a Hunting Act offence.
Whalley, a 33 year old from Retford, was ordered to pay a £663 in total, including a surcharge of £165 and £85 prosecution costs.
The charges against Whalley related to an incident on 30 November 2024 where he allowed the Fitzwilliam’s hounds to chase a fox across a golf course. Beds & Bucks Hunt Sabs wrote:
“It was our video footage and witness statements along with work from the Cambridgeshire Police [Rural Crime Action] RCAT team that once again meant the Fitzwilliam will be facing the courts. This will be the third potential Hunting Act conviction for this hunt. Both Parish and Whalley have previous convictions. Parish pleaded guilty to a Hunting Act charge back in May 2023, and Whalley was convicted of three counts of battery in 2014 in another hunt-related incident.”
Whalley is reportedly moving on from the Fitzwilliam, to take on the role of Huntsman at the Nottinghamshire based Grove & Rufford Hunt.
Huntsman Shaun Parish, a 36 year old from Milton Park, was charged with the same offence. He chose to plead not guilty and his trial was set for 27 November.
Parish and Whalley were on trial together already for a hunting offence back in 2023 (see below).
‘Damning indictment’
Beds & Bucks Hunt Sabs told the Hunt Saboteurs Association:
“We’re clearly happy with another conviction, however the paltry fine for a Hunting Act offence is no deterrent for those with deep pockets and that clearly needs to change. We look forward to November when we’ll hopefully conclude this chapter with another conviction. The Fitzwilliam Hunt refuse to accept the law of the land and blatantly hunt foxes. Regardless of their attempts to intimidate us we will never go away and we’ll use every tool at our disposal to save the lives of the wildlife they persecute and bring them before the courts”.
According to Protect the Wild’s Rob Pownall:
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Fitzwilliam Hunt: A track record of violence, killing and chaos
The Fitzwilliam, owned by 4th Baronet Sir Philip Naylor-Leyland, have been keen to keep their activities secret. They even shelled out thousands of pounds to obtain a high court injunction against sabs and monitors in 2020. The court ruling means that civil trespass at Milton Hall where the hunt is based can be punished by prison time. Luckily, wildlife defenders can still use public rights of way, meaning much of the FH’s dirty washing is still well and truly on display. Here’s a few of the FH’s lowest moments over the past few years:
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In 2018 the Fitzwilliam’s George Adam was convicted under the Hunting Act. Adam tried to use a ‘bird of prey’ exemption, saying that he was using the Hunt’s hounds to flush out the fox to be killed by a bird of prey. His defence was unsuccessful, as was his appeal. Birds of prey are sometimes present at hunt meets for the sole purpose of being used as a legal fig-leaf to mask the hunting of mammals with hounds, much like trail hunting is.
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Also in 2018, a hound was killed after the Fitzwilliam Hunt allowed their pack to chase a fox close to a busy motorway.
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In 2020, the behaviour of the Fitzwilliam Hunt and pressure from local people prompted Peterborough Council to pass a motion stating “This Council resolves to do everything within its legal powers to prevent trail hunting, exempt hunting, hound exercise and hunt meets on its land”.
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Later in 2020, the Fitzwilliam Hunt were forced to apologise after they chased a fox across a crematorium, disrupting a funeral with 20-30 hounds in tow.
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In 2023 Parish pleaded guilty to a hunting offence after footage from Peterborough Hunt Sabs showed the Fitzwilliam Hunt digging out a fox and then hunting her. Parrish was fined £421. Whalley was initially on trial too, but his charges were eventually dropped.
Conflict of interest
This new conviction for a Fitzwilliam Hunt member sheds further doubt on FH secretary Karen Silcock’s role as a charity trustee. Silcock is a former director of the Countryside Alliance and now serves as a trustee of the Countryside Alliance Foundation (CAF). Her dual role raises serious concerns about the governance of CAF and whether its trustees are making decisions in line with public benefit or private hunting interests. Silcock is also a trustee of the British Horse Society.
Guilty pleas like Whalley’s are becoming increasingly frequent. Protect the Wild has been monitoring arrests, charges and convictions related to hunting since 2023. We have recorded 30 convictions since then. There have already been 18 convictions for hunting-related offences this year. But this brutal bloodsport isn’t going to be ended by the courts alone. We need strong organising at a local level to stop hunts killing foxes and other animals. This year the government is planning a consultation on a new ban on trail hunting, sign our petition for a workable ban here.
- You can support Beds & Bucks Hunt Sabs here: ko-fi.com
- Click here to donate to Peterborough Hunt Sabs
- Check out our page on Foxes and the Law
Sabs call out the Cottesmore Hunt’s hypocrisy
Hunts around the UK are using the Summer break before the next foxhunting season to promote themselves by holding open days, hound shows and puppy shows. Tim Bonner, CEO of the pro-hunt advocacy group the Countryside Alliance has encouraged hunts to go on a public relations drive. Sabs and monitor groups have been busy calling out their hypocrisy.
Northants Hunt Sabs (NHS), North London Hunt Saboteurs and Locals Against the Cottesmore Hunt have been busy making sure the public know the facts about the suffering that hunts cause to both foxes and hounds. On 6 July they protested a ‘Fun-Ride’ organised by the East Midlands based Cottesmore Hunt at Exton Lodge. NHS wrote:
“paying customers were constantly reminded throughout the morning as to what their money is funding by participating in these ‘Fun rides’. These events are a vital fundraiser for the Cottesmore Hunt and so we will continue to apply pressure to these events as part of our wider campaign to close them down.”
The event was disrupted after sabs managed to enter the estate. Security personnel from AGL Security went in search of them and left the gates unattended, leaving fun ride attendees clueless about how to get in.
‘Who let the hounds out?’
Northants Hunt Sabs and Locals Against the Cottesmore Hunt held a demo outside the Cottesmore Hunt Open Day on 22 June too, complete with protester in a hound costume. NHS wrote on the Facebook page:
“The Cottesmore like all hunts depend on painting a picture of pastoral pleasantry to mask the cruel and grotesque activities that are the reality for this Organised Criminal Gang (OCG).”
Strong words, but if the cap fits… Here’s a list of some of the violence, intimidation and abuse of wildlife caused by the Cottesmore over the past years:
- In September 2021, hunt saboteur Mel Broughton suffered broken ribs when a Cottesmore Hunt steward assaulted him. He drifted in and out of consciousness before being rushed to hospital.
- November 2021: Hertfordshire Hunt Saboteurs filmed field rider Sarah Moulds kicking and punching a horse during a meet of the Cottesmore, an incident that made national news and landed Moulds a trial at Lincoln Crown Court in August 2023. She was found not guilty, but the footage speaks for itself.
- In October 2022, Angela Jarrom committed a hit-and-run on a hunt saboteur during a Cottesmore Hunt meet on her land. Jarrom pleaded guilty to a diminished charge of actual bodily harm, but escaped going to prison.
- In November 2023, huntsman Sam Jones was found not guilty of common assault despite causing injuries to a wildlife defender. Jones’ horse leapt a fence while a sab was standing on the other side. As a result, the horse hit the saboteur.
- 6 January 2024: NHS were followed by four men wearing balaclavas, with matching puffy jackets. The men prevented the sabs from following the hunt by surrounding them and using physical force. The female sabs were thrown to the ground and dragged through the mud.
- 13 January 2024: Ten or more masked thugs attack the sabs’ vehicle, trying to gain access to the sabs themselves. Northants Sabs’ account of that incident stated: “As sabs monitored their movements, the Cottesmore’s hired henchmen came down the Colsterworth road just east of Stainby and blocked all traffic. Again, balaclava wearing thugs exited the vehicles, spilt out across the road and ran towards our vehicle. Blocked from the rear also, sabs tried to move forward surrounded by the mob. A hammer went into the windscreen as the vehicle’s wing mirror was ripped off. Again, the Cottesmore’s gang desperately tried to get into the vehicle and the sabs inside. For the third time that day some inspired driving got sabs around the blocking vehicle and away.”
- 24 February 2024: Northants Sabs wrote: “More threats of violence and intimidation were dished out towards members of our group from the Cottesmore’s hired thugs. One woman was threatened with physical violence for simply responding to a question and others were threatened about where they live.”
- November 2024: David Fildes, a hired Cottesmore Hunt steward pleaded guilty to several violent offences against wildlife defenders, including assault by beating and unlawful violence.
- In April 2025, Two more hired Cottesmore thugs were convicted for violence offences. Andrew Kean pleaded guilty to two charges of assault by beating, and one charge of common assault at Leicester Crown Court, while Barrington Nurse-Phillips admitted two charges of common assault.
With a rap sheet like that, it’s surprising that the Cottesmore is still operating at all. Protect the Wild supports the brave sabs and monitors who continue to do their best to prevent the hunt from terrorising wildlife, despite the extreme violence levelled against them.
Protest turns ‘surreal’
At the Kennels’ open day demonstration, protests took a creative turn. NHS wrote:
“Things were about take a surreal and humorous turn as a six-foot hound approached the entrance and cocked its leg up against the Cottesmore Hunt Supporters Club sign. With looks of utter disbelief the gate security didn’t know whether to scold the giant hound or fetch a bucket of soapy water. It’s amazing what can be achieved with a dog costume a plastic bottle and tube and some orange juice. It seems one bright spark from the hunting world is so outraged he is calling for the arrest of our giant furry friend – job done.”
Events like open days at hunt kennels are attempts to paper over the killing and violence that is the reality of fox hunting. Hunts also try to paint a picture of a benign relationship with their hounds, who they claim are valued members of their community. The reality couldn’t be further from the truth. In fact over 7000 healthy hounds are killed by hunts each year. Protect the Wild’s hound researcher Charlotte Smith has previously said:
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Northants Hunt Sabs are asking for donations to support them to protest all of the Cottesmore Hunt’s Summer fundraising events. You can donate here.
- You can find out more about hound welfare and our calls to rehome the hounds here.
- Read Protect the Wild’s page on ‘Dogs and the Law’ here.