Blackmore & Sparkford Vale 'rent-a-thug' issued with Criminal Behaviour Order
Shane Cooper banned from "hunting and owning certain animals"
Dorset Police Rural Crime Team has issued a Blackmore and Sparkford Vale supporter with a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO). Shane Cooper pleaded guilty to assault and theft following an incident on 26 September 2023. He attacked hunt saboteurs and stole their equipment.
The CBO replaced the more commonly-known ASBO back in 2014. You can read more about CBOs and related orders on our Anti-social Behaviour And The Law page here. According to the Sentencing Council:
"A CBO is an order designed to tackle the most serious and persistent anti-social individuals where their behaviour has brought them before a criminal court."
'Beaten with a thick branch'
Weymouth Animal Rights wrote about the assault the day after it happened. The group said:
"the 'rent a thugs' appeared, landing in by quad they attacked our Sabs. They made a particular beeline for our female Sab and attacked her from behind. They stole her camera and radio and knocked her to the ground several times. Our other Sab was also viciously attacked and beaten with a thick branch, they too had their body cam stolen along with a radio and Gizmo. It was an horrific ordeal! Luckily one Sab was able to retain an SD card and the footage is now in the hands of the police."
The CBO states that Cooper is:
Not to attend any location where there is a hunt taking place, whether that be pre planned, informal or organised.
Not to attend, loiter or be near any hunt activity or to associate with any person linked with any hunt at the time of such activity. Should he find himself in such a condition he must remove himself immediately.
Not to act or incite others to behave in an anti-social manner, that is to say a manner that causes harassment, alarm or distress to any persons.
Not to be on any private land without prior written permission from the owner or legal representative of the land and to produce any such written permission when asked to do so by a police officer.
Not to enter any farm premises, yard, barns, outbuildings, gardens, driveway, or any other such land attached to those premises.
Not to cold call at any residential or business premises. Calling at any residential address or business premises can be made with a prior appointment and agreement by the occupant or a person with authority to act on behalf of the occupant.
Not to be in possession of a wild animal, wild bird or part of a wild animal or bird living or dead in Dorset without being able to prove where it came from
Not to be in possession of a catapult or shot such as ball bearings, pebbles or similar items capable of being used as shot or be in a vehicle with a catapult or such shot, in a place to which the public has access or private land as a trespasser.
The order is in place until further order, or until 8 March 2025.
Violent BSV
This incident was one of a line of assaults in late 2023, carried out by BSV thugs. In October 2023 we reported that two sabs were targeted. At the time North Dorset Sabs wrote:
“two female sabs were attacked by three masked men. Their cameras were stolen and they were pushed and shoved. Several 999 calls were made but Dorset Police Rural Crime Team made no effort to attend.”
And then just days after that, sabs’ homes were targeted, as well as their car windows smashed and tyres slashed. Writing about the attacks on their members, the sabs said in October:
“It seems that after six weeks of being constantly sabbed, the masters of the BSV are feeling the pressure and have ordered violence, robbery and criminal damage as an acceptable form of damage limitation.”
In November 2023, Weymouth Animal Rights reported that sabs were attacked as the BSV tried to prevent the group from moving in to prevent a kill. They said:
“Sabs were assaulted by two terriermen and a rider who was so desperate to prevent sabs from moving in, that he jumped off his horse and attacked one sab.”
Also in 2023, the BSV was suspended – albeit briefly – by hunt’s governing body, the British Hound Sports Association, after drone footage of the hunt murdering a fox appeared on Channel 4 News. The video, which was captured on 4 December 2023, showed the hunt master and other staff watching on, doing nothing to call the hounds off. They made sure that they retrieved the fox’s mauled body afterwards. Following the Channel 4 expose, four men were charged under Section 1 of the Hunting Act 2004, accused of hunting a wild mammal with dogs.
In February 2024, on the BSV’s closing meet of the season, hunt saboteurs’ lives were endangered by thugs supporting the hunt. Weymouth Animal Rights explained what happened:
“A massive crowd gathered as supporters, many of which wreaked of alcohol, attempted to steal equipment, made threats of an array of creepiness, and violently attacked sabs. As sabs were walking away, one was punched in the back of the head and knocked to the ground. This extremely dangerous and cowardly move resulted in a head injury that sent this sab to the hospital.”
Then in April 2024 the BSV's Charlie Mayo, son of hunt master Anthony Mayo, was found guilty of assaulting a hunt saboteur and causing actual bodily harm. The saboteur was so badly injured that he was hospitalised. The assault, which North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs described as “unprovoked” and “cowardly”, took place back in December 2021. A jury at Bournemouth Crown Court unanimously found Mayo guilty.
The UK's best boutique hotel supports the BSV
It is clear that the BSV is one of the most violent hunts in the country, terrorising hunt saboteurs, monitors and foxes alike. Surprisingly, one popular hotel, The Newt in Somerset - which was awarded the World’s Best Boutique Hotel award at The World’s 50 Best Hotels 2023 - still hosts the hunt on the hotel's grounds, as well as on some other farms it owns.
If The Newt continues to allow the BSV to use its land, the hotel will suffer from reputational damage, and, likely, declining membership numbers. On top of this, the business risks prosecution under Section 3 of the Hunting Act as a complicit landowner.
Protect the Wild is campaigning for The Newt - which is keen to craft a wholesome image of itself - to disassociate itself from the BSV. Join more than 14,000 people and add your name to our petition and open letter here.
Our founder Rob is set to run the Richmond marathon in mid-September to raise funds for Protect the Wild! Now is a great time to donate to the fundraiser because a very generous donor has said they will match all donations up to £20,000! So every donation has double the impact! £5 ends up being £10 and £10 ends up being £20! If you’d like to show Rob your support and help us raise vital funds to support the work that we do you can donate here.