Call to Action in support of wildlife defender assaulted by the hunt

Essex & Suffolk Hunt (ESH) supporter Tom Greig was filmed smashing hunt monitor Chantelle Leach’s phone and shoving her during the ESH’s meet in Little Bentley on 26 February. However, Chantelle told Protect the Wild that Greig’s assault continued after the film is cut. Police have been sent the video, but Chantelle says that their […]

CPS blunder: dismay as trial of Essex and Suffolk huntsmen collapses

CPS blunder trial collapses march 2025

The trial of whipper-in Jamie Price, huntsman Jack Henty and Hamish Golding of the Essex and Suffolk hunt collapsed on Tuesday 11 March at Ipswich Magistrates Court, after the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) lawyer failed to disclose a document to the defence. Wildlife monitors were dismayed, as the three men evaded prosecution. Price, Henty and […]

Animal Cruelty Charges: Ex-Essex & Suffolk Huntsman pleads guilty

Sam Staniland animal cruelty charges feb 2025

Ex-Essex & Suffolk Huntsman Sam Staniland plead guilty to three animal cruelty charges under the Animal Welfare Act at Ipswich Magistrates Court on 26 February. He is due to be sentenced on 10 April at Norwich Crown Court. The judge said that “all sentencing options” would “be open”. Staniland pleaded guilty to acting unlawfully during […]

‘SMOKESCREEN SATURDAY’: the sham that is ‘national trail hunting day’

The hunting industry’s Big Day is approaching: the moment when it desperately tries to convince the Labour government that it isn’t breaking the law – despite 20 years of evidence showing otherwise. The National Trail Hunting Day – dubbed ‘Smokescreen Saturday’ by hunt saboteurs and monitors – will take place on 14 September. The British […]

Equipment Fund #22: Suffolk Action for Wildlife

Suffolk Action For Wildlife (SAF) have been monitoring and exposing illegal hunting across Suffolk since 2021. Focussing their work on the Essex and Suffolk Hunt, they have always generously shared their news and images with us here at Protect the Wild (see for example ‘CONVICTED! Terrierman guilty after terrorising monitors on quad bike’ and ‘Essex […]

CONVICTED! Terrierman guilty after terrorising monitors on quad bike

Robert Cundy

Robert Cundy (pictured above), terrierman for the Essex and Suffolk Hunt, pleaded guilty on 14 June to breaking a Community Protection Notice (CPN). A CPN can be issued by a court as punishment for persistent antisocial behaviour. Suffolk Action for Wildlife (SAF) consistently monitors the hunt. Protect the Wild chatted to SAF’s Anna about the […]

Two Essex and Suffolk Hunt men arrested for killing fox

Essex and Suffolk Hunt's Jamie Price tries to prevent a hunt sab from filming a murdered fox

Two hunters have been arrested and charged under the Hunting Act. Essex and Suffolk Hunt’s whipper-in, Jamie Price, along with huntsman Jack Henty, have been accused of illegal hunting on two separate occasions. Protect the Wild spoke to Suffolk Action for Wildlife (SAF), a group which consistently monitors the hunt. SAF said: “There were two […]

Hunter accused of six charges of animal cruelty

Sam Staniland, huntsman for the Essecx and Suffolk Hunt, during a cubbing meet in September 2022.

Sam Staniland, ex-huntsman for the Essex and Suffolk Hunt, was in court on Monday 18 December, accused of six charges under the Animal Welfare Act. The hunter pleaded not guilty to all six charges. He was accused of: Causing unnecessary suffering to a foxhound by failing to prevent the dog from fighting a fox on […]

Hunt kills deer and uses ‘falconry exemption’ to hunt illegally

Muntjac deer killed by Essex and Suffolk Hunt

On 25 September Suffolk Action For Wildlife (SAFW) posted a distressing video online. The footage showed a deer who had just been murdered by the Essex and Suffolk Hunt. Protect the Wild spoke to SAFW about the events of that day, and about a little-known loophole in the Hunting Act that hunts are using as […]

Yet another pet is seriously injured by hunting hounds

Pack of foxhounds hounds on the road. The legs of horses can also be seen.

Essex and Suffolk Hunt hounds mauled a pet dog in Layham, Suffolk, on 15 August. The hounds were being exercised when the attack happened. Local news outlet, Hadleigh Nub News, reported that the labradoodle dog needed treatment from a vet, and that “the elderly dog walker was left shocked and upset by the incident.” Terrorised […]

Police investigating Essex and Suffolk Hunt after fox bolts from badger sett

essex and suffolk terriermen

Suffolk Police is investigating the Essex and Suffolk Hunt after monitors witnessed members of the hunt trying to force a fox to bolt from a badger sett. The incident happened during the hunt’s Boxing Day meet – the most important day in the hunting calendar. While the hunt master was giving his speech, wildlife monitors […]