Hunt Saboteur case settled

An out-of-court settlement has been agreed between the Crawley and Horsham Hunt and West Sussex Wildlife Protection Group.

The case, brought by the hunt, local farmers and landowners sought an injunction under the 1997 Protection from Harassment Act to stop trespass by animal rights activists. If the case had gone through the courts it could have been a model for shoots facing difficulties with saboteurs.

Antony Sandeman, Joint Master of the hunt said: “We have achieved what we set out to do. The West Sussex Wildlife Protection Group has moderated its behaviour to the point where it will no longer be able to harass the hunt. As a result of this legal action the activists’ behaviour has been toned down to such an extent that it is now almost unrecognisable as a hunt saboteurs’ group.”