It’s becoming an increasingly common scene – hired thugs employed by hunts to intimidate hunt saboteurs and monitors.
The latest group to be targeted is Cheshire Borderland Monitors. They had already experienced various types of harassment over the past couple of hunting seasons, leading to convictions of people associated with the Wynnstay Hunt. In July 2023, a hunt supporter who was filmed performing a Nazi salute pleaded guilty to aggravated harassment. In July 2024, a Wynnstay Hunt security guard was convicted of racial abuse. And as this season progresses, the monitors have been targeted yet again, this time by four other men acting as Wynnstay security.
The group has filmed the behaviour of those harassing them. Cheshire Monitors’ Lesley is in her seventies. The young masked men surrounded her as Wynnstay hounds hunted, calling her a “silly old c*nt”, and telling her to
“do as you’re told, fuck off…Pussy bastards, every one of ya.”
One of the thugs said of another monitor,
“That prick over there…It’s alright, we know where he lives.”
Police warning
The monitors told Protect the Wild that they sent this footage to the police last week, and that Cheshire Rural Crime team then called Wynnstay huntsman Henry Bailey, warning him about the security guards’ behaviour. After the call, the monitors noticed a marked difference in harassment on the ground, which they say proves that the men are employed by the Wynnstay.
The monitors told Protect the Wild:
“This situation whereby a so-called trail hunt has to employ damaged individuals, desperate for quick cash, to throw their weight around at peaceful monitors and sabs who are giving up their spare time and money to save foxes speaks for itself.
Trail hunting is a total and utter lie. Always has been and always will be, and the Wynnstay (like hunts nationwide) are clinging onto their minority pastime using dark and dirty tactics.”
Violence is the norm
The Wynnstay isn’t the only hunt that has counted on violent supporters or security guards to ‘throw their weight around’. On 6 November, a thug hired by the Cottestmore Hunt pleaded guilty in court. David Fildes faced multiple charges after making life hell for hunt saboteurs. The violence against sabs took place earlier in 2024 and spanned weeks. He will be sentenced in December.
In June 2023, Cottesmore Hunt supporter Angela Jarrom pleaded guilty after she targeted a hunt saboteur during a hunt meet in October 2022. Jarrom drove at speed at the sab, hitting her from behind before speeding off.
And in December and January 2023, South Dorset Hunt (SDH) supporters used extreme violence to target hunt saboteurs and monitors. In the course of just weeks, a 77-year-old hunt monitor from Weymouth Animal Rights was beaten round the head with an iron bar; on 26 December, hunt saboteurs woke up to find 17 of their vehicles’ tyres were slashed; on 12 January, an independent monitor in his seventies was badly bruised when he was hit with metal shot at him from a catapult; and on the same day, SDH supporters threw two murdered foxes into a hunt saboteur’s garden.
And then in March 2023, South Dorset Hunt supporter Stewart Masters was found guilty after running down a hunt saboteur from Weymouth Animal Rights with his vehicle.
While the Wynnstay, Cottesmore and South Dorset Hunt are all notorious for security guards or supporters committing violent acts, individuals associated with numerous other hunts have been guilty of similar aggression.
- In January 2023, hunt saboteurs had their tyres slashed by a Grove and Rufford Hunt (GRH) supporter. But the culprit got a nasty shock when a sab pulled off the supporter’s balaclava to reveal his identity, and the man was subsequently arrested.
- In February 2023, an ambulance was called to help a disabled man who said he was attacked by two men on a quad bike. The incident took place during a meet of the Worcestershire Hunt.
- In August 2023, hunt saboteurs stated that hunt followers “seriously assaulted” two members during a Devon and Somerset Staghounds meet. The attack hospitalised one sab, while a vehicle was smashed up.
Support the monitors!
If hunts were obeying the law and willing to openly demonstrate that to onlookers, none of this would happen. But hunts are trying to hide what they are doing behind a wall of hired thugs. It takes great courage for monitors to try to save foxes week in, week out, when they are being routinely harassed by violent men. We have huge respect for their bravery, which is why we write about them and offer equipment like camcorders, bodycams and radios to make them safer.
Please show your support for Cheshire Borderland Monitors as they continue to stand up to the Wynnstay Hunt and its desperate and aggressive tactics. Donate to the monitors here.
