The director of the national foxhounds association has appeared in court to deny a claim that he offered tips for running illegal foxhunts.
Mark Hankinson, 60, is accused of advising huntsman on circumventing the fox hunting ban in two private webinars held in August last year.
Videos of the webinars ended up being posted online by anti-hunt activists, who claimed to have exposed discussions of creating a “smokescreen” for illegal hunting.
Hankinson, the director of the Masters of Foxhounds Association, was charged with a criminal offence by Devon and Cornwall Police, and appeared at Westminster magistrates court today to face the allegation for the first time.
It is said he “gave advice to a webinar audience on how to conceal their illegal hunting activity, which was capable of encouraging or assisting the commission of a summary offence, namely illegally hunting wild mammals with dogs”.
Hankinson, who appeared via videolink for the short hearing, entered a not guilty, and his case was adjourned for a trial in September.
Many organisations switched to trail hunting after the 2005 foxhunting ban came into force, which involves laying a trail of animal scent to be followed.
However the practice has been controversial as opponents and saboteurs claim trails are deliberately laid in areas where wild animals are likely to be, so that real-life hunting ends up taking place.
Prosecutor Caighli Taylor told the court today the case against Hankinson rests on two webinar videos, which are intended to be deployed in his trial.
But defence lawyer Rachna Gokani said the way the videos emerged may be questioned.
“It is a potential issue for the defence that there’s a question of the way in which the video used against Mr Hankinson was obtained”, she said.
“It would seem there was some illegality involved in that process. I will be asking for some disclosure and considering what applications flow from material we receive.”
The court heard Hankinson could not be formally questioned by police over the matter due to pandemic restrictions, but was sent a list of written questions to answer instead.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram adjourned the case until a trial on September 20 and 21.
Hankinson, who lives on a farm in Sherborne, Dorset, remains on unconditional bail until trial.
The charge he denies - intentionally encouraging or assisting the commission of a summary offence – carries a maximum penalty of an unlimited fine.
