Two men from the Quorn Hunt pleaded not guilty at a pre-trial hearing on the 7th October at Leicester Magistrates Court after being charged with offences under the Hunting Act 2004. They now face a two-day trial at Loughborough Magistrates Court due to take place on the 11th and 13th January next year.
Huntsman John Oliver ‘Ollie’ Finnegan, aged 35, from Melton Mowbray and former whipper-in Rhys Matcham, aged 29, from Badminton, are accused of hunting a wild mammal with a dog, namely a fox. The alleged incident took place at Beedon on the Hill, Leicestershire on 4th February 2020.
The case follows an investigation by Leicestershire Police based on evidence obtained by professional investigators working for animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports.