Kimblewick Hunt pair convicted of animal cruelty offences
Posted 31st October 2019
Animal welfare charity the League Against Cruel Sports has welcomed the successful prosecution at Oxford Magistrates Court of two individuals associated with the Kimblewick Hunt.
Ian Parkinson and Mark Vincent were filmed brutally dragging out a fox trapped in an artificial earth, before releasing it in front of baying hounds to provide ‘sport’ for the hunt on New Year’s Day.
Ian Parkinson and Mark Vincent were found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal under the Animal Welfare Act and the judge has directed that the men face custodial sentences.
Martin Sims, director of investigations at the League Against Cruel Sports and former head of the police’s National Wildlife Crime Unit, said:
“The case provided clear evidence that the Kimblewick Hunt is flouting the hunting ban and is releasing foxes to be chased and literally torn apart by their hounds.
“As this successful prosecution shows, the issue of fox hunting is still very much live. As we enter into a general election, the future leaders of our country should be taking note and doing everything they can to ensure that the ban on hunting is upheld and further strengthened to prevent this type of barbaric activity ever happening again.”
The two men will return to Oxford Magistrates Court on November 26 for sentencing.
ENDS