Kennel huntsman pleads guilty to hunting a wild mammal with dogs

​*We have been asked to clarify that the owners of Crockwell Farm had not given Phillip Kennedy permission to use their land for his illegal hunting activities.*

A 48-year-old kennel huntsman has been fined after pleading guilty to hunting a wild mammal with dogs.

Phillip Kennedy, of Stowe in Buckinghamshire, had been charged under the Hunting Act 2004, following the incident which took place on the afternoon of November 13 last year.

A member of the public captured drone footage of the Stowe Beagles’ hounds killing a hare –across land belonging to Crockwell Farm in the West Northamptonshire village of Eydon.

The footage showed the pack chasing the European brown hare across the open field towards a far fence, where the defenceless mammal was attacked and killed.

After the kill, Kennedy was seen standing next to the pack of hounds and shaking hands with other members of the party instead of retrieving the hare from the beagles which continued to attack the dead mammal.

Following an investigation by Northamptonshire Police’s Rural Crime Team, Kennedy went on to be charged with one count of hunting a wild mammal with dogs, which carries a maximum sentence of £5,000.

On June 4, at Northampton Magistrates’ Court, Kennedy pleaded guilty to the charge, and he was fined £258 and ordered to pay £585 court costs and £103 victim surcharge.

PC Chloe Gillies, of Northamptonshire Police Rural Crime Team, who led the investigation, said: “As the kennel huntsman of Stowe Beagles, Phillip Kennedy knew that allowing his dogs to chase and kill a hare was cruel and illegal.

“Even after the hare was dead, Kennedy and the rest of the group, stood and shook hands in a congratulatory manner instead of stepping in to stop the dogs from continuing to attack the hare.

“We take all reports of crime against wildlife seriously and I would like to extend my thanks to the witness who provided evidence in this case as it shows the importance of reporting any alleged breaches of the Hunting Act 2004.”

Report suspicious activity and non-emergency crime by calling 101 or going online at www.northants.police.uk/RO. In an emergency where a crime is in progress or life is at risk, always call 999.

Find information and advice about rural crime, including reporting links, here: www.northants.police.uk/rural-crime