GUILTY! Weston and Banwell Hunt terriermen convicted of assault
Weston and Banwell Hunt's Ian Dinham and Brian Pearce in court
The 2024/25 hunting season is just about getting underway, with hunts terrorising fox cubs around the country right now. But there's good news: yet more hunters have been found guilty in court.
Somerset Sabs wrote of the court case:
"The shovel-wielding Weston and Banwell terriermen. Ian Dinham and Brian (Anthony) Pearce finally had their day in court yesterday. They appeared at Taunton Magistrates Court on Friday, 9th August. They pleaded not guilty to all charges, claiming that their unprovoked attack was self defence.
Ian Dinham was charged and found gulity of assault and ordered to pay £2,472.
Brian Pearce was charged and found guilty of assault and intent to cause harm, harassment and fear under section 4 of the public disorder act. He was ordered to pay £1,607."
Attacked with a spade
Back in November 2023, we reported on how police were trying to track down one of the assailants of the assault. He was promptly identified and arrested.
Somerset Sabs released footage of the attack at the time. They said:
“Terrier man Brian Pearce and unknown assailant lost control and showed their violent side yesterday after sabs helped 2 foxes to safety and prevented a dig out.”
Mendip Hunt Sabs, who were also on the ground that day, wrote:
“Frustrated by our constant presence, it was then that one of the foot sabs was subjected to an unprovoked vicious attack from two terriermen, who beat him with a spade, and punched and kicked him whilst he was on the ground. His camera was also ripped from his grasp and thrown over a tall hedge. Avon & Somerset police were called, but did not attend. All of this was caught on camera by another Somerset sab.”
Defended by infamous lawyer
Pearce and Dinham were defended by defence lawyer Sam Harkness, who appears to be on every terrierman’s speed dial. Somerset Sabs said of him:
"He has made a name for himself defending terriermen. His last high-profile hunt case was his defence of the horrendous Avon Vale Hunt throwing a dug out fox to the hounds. Hope he’s expensive for all his losses."
On top of this, Harkness defended Kent Hounds terriermen Robert Mills and Jack Mills in a horrific animal cruelty case, where the men used super glue to ‘repair’ their terrier Fudge's lip after he was maimed while fox hunting.
Each of these men was convicted in court. Maybe it is Harkness' mitigation skills that are most sought after, rather than his ability to secure not guilty verdicts.
Violence is the norm
Protect the Wild writes regularly about the violent and abusive tactics used by hunters and their supporters, as they resort to desperate measures to get a kill. One month ago, we reported on how a security guard, working for the notorious Wynnstay Hunt, pleaded guilty after racially abusing a hunt saboteur.
And less than two months ago, we wrote about the case of Robert Cundy, terrierman for the Essex and Suffolk Hunt. He was convicted after breaking the terms of a Community Protection Notice after he terrorised hunt monitors on his quad bike.
As the 2024/25 hunting season gets underway, Labour is threatening to properly ban hunting for good. Hunts will, no doubt, blame saboteurs and monitors for the impending ban, and will have an axe to grind. We can be certain that there will be more violence directed at those who put their bodies in the way of hunts.
You can support those on the ground, facing violence on an all-too-regular basis. Donate to Somerset Sabs - who are bearing the brunt of the Weston and Banwell's violence - here.
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Well done Sabs 👍!! Although the "punishment" for those sick scum is paltry and should be far, far more severe, it is good to see many of them getting convicted guilty for a change!! I hope it continues until hunting is well and truly properly banned once and for all!! I am curious though, can criminals put themselves forward for "protection" for "ethnic minority" under the Equality act? As if those hunt scum do get "protection for an ethnic minority", then they are effectively giving criminals protection. Thank you for naming and shaming that so called lawyer "Sam Harkness" too!!
Hats off to the SABS, well done. It feels like we are getting somewhere then an absolute Pratt like Harkness gives out slaps on wrists to violent and sick individuals who deserve mush more punishment than he gave out. I agree with you James Wood it's upsetting to see but it needs to go out to a wider audience because now the local news is highlighting wildlife a lot more lately now they need to highlight the abuse a lot more, and those doing it.