Saboteur Not Guilty in Boxing Day case.

A Hunt Saboteur from Southampton was cleared of a charge of Aggravated Trespass yesterday in Newbury Magistrates Court when the magistrates decided that there was no case to answer.  

Arising from an incident on Boxing Day - when the Garth & South Berks Hunt were hunting in Mortimer, Berks - the saboteur's solicitor argued that the prosecution had failed to make an adequate case.

The court had heard from Peter Swann, the huntsman, who had coloured in maps showing his route and been confused about how many times he had read a warning to protestors on the day.  The only witness who claimed to have seen the protestor blow a hunting horn - a police officer - was discredited when he changed the location of the event after the lunch time adjournment.  The officer had referred to a location several times in interviews, in statements, and in court but then changed his opinion.  Another officer who had been nearby said he had not seen or heard a horn being blown at the time.

The sab was heard to later say "With prosecution witnesses like Peter Swann, who needs a defence?"

A spokesperson for Southern Anti Bloodsports Society said "This is the fifth case in 3 months that we know of when Thames Valley police have arrested protestors and taken them to court only to have the case chucked out.  The Home Office and CPS should consider how much time and public money is wasted protecting participants of a barbaric pastime that 80% of the population want banned."  He went on to say "There would appear to be a hidden agenda of criminalising those who seek to use their legal right to protest - whatever the cost to the public.  The only way we can make them sit up and listen is by suing them every time they bring a malicous prosecution such as this one."