Hunting Update – Two hunters found guilty of assaults on sabs and more
February 2026 saw several hunt members convicted for violence against wildlife and wildlife defenders alike. Meanwhile – as we wait for the Labour government to make good on its promise to ban the facade of ‘trail hunting’ – UK hunts have recently been caught on camera killing hares, foxes and deer. As usual, their actions […]
GUILTY: Pipewell Foot Beagles court report
Planned for three days, the trial of the Pipewell Foot Beagles and two of its members ended dramatically less than an hour into day two after the huntsman changed his plea. Philip Saunders, huntsman for the Pipewell Beagles, admitted breaking Section 1 of the Hunting Act after encouraging hounds to kill a hare. He was […]
Pipewell Foot Beagles huntsman, whipper-in and directors plead not guilty
The whipper-in and huntsman from a Northamptonshire based hare hunt have pleaded not guilty to offences under the Hunting Act 2004. The charges were brought after footage of the Pipewell Foot Beagles (PFB) tearing up a hare went viral earlier this year. Huntsman Philip Anthony Saunders and whipper-in Rachael Victoria Lenton from the PFB both […]
Police make rare decision to charge beagle pack with illegal hunting
Northamptonshire Police have brought charges against the Pipewell Foot Beagles after a member of the public caught the hunt chasing and killing a hare. Footage of the incident, which occurred on 25 January 2025, circulated widely on social media, subsequently bringing landowner Boughton Estate into disrepute as well. Amongst Northamptonshire Police’s charges is the rare […]
Blood on Their Land: Boughton Estate’s Role in Wildlife Crime Revealed
Pipewell Foot Beagles (PFB) were filmed setting their hounds on a hare on 25 January. Northamptonshire’s Boughton House and Estate says it has temporarily suspended PFB activity on its land after the shocking footage of the incident circulated on social media. However, local people are asking why it took so long, as they have been […]