MARK PEARSON FROM NORTH DORSET CONVICTED OF ILLEGAL FOX HUNTING IN BLANDFORD FORUM
| Red Rose Database
North Dorset Animal Abuser
Mark Pearson, a company director residing at Chisel House, Hanford, in the North Dorset area, was found guilty in 2022 of engaging in illegal hunting activities involving his pack of dogs. The incident took place during a trail hunt in the countryside near Bere Regis, within the jurisdiction of Blandford Forum, on December 13, 2021. Pearson’s actions drew the attention of local animal rights activists from Weymouth, who observed and documented the event.
According to reports, Pearson was seen shouting commands such as “carry on” and “hunt on” as his hounds pursued and attacked a fox. Witnesses from Weymouth Animal Rights captured footage of Pearson, dressed in the traditional red coat of a master huntsman, dismounting his horse and approaching the barking hounds near a patch of gorse. The activists noted that Pearson appeared to be encouraging the dogs, which had cornered and killed the fox. The dead animal was subsequently carried out of the undergrowth by Pearson himself.
Legal proceedings revealed that Pearson was leading the South Dorset Hunt through the rural areas when the incident occurred. Magistrates heard that earlier that same day, the same pack of dogs had killed another fox, an event dismissed by police as an unfortunate accident. However, the focus of the court was on the later incident, where evidence showed Pearson’s active involvement in encouraging the dogs to continue their pursuit.
Two hours after most of the hunt had dispersed, hunt saboteurs monitoring the event heard the hounds baying again. One of the animal rights campaigners managed to film the aftermath of the attack, capturing footage of Pearson in his hunting attire dismounting his horse and walking towards the hounds near the gorse. The footage clearly showed Pearson in a position of authority, seemingly urging the dogs to continue their hunt.
Prosecutor Molly Mifsud told the court that Pearson had failed to intervene to stop the dogs from killing the fox, despite being aware that the animals were engaged in a hunt. She emphasized that his actions, including encouraging the hounds and failing to control them, constituted a violation of Section 1 of the Hunting Act 2004, which prohibits hunting wild mammals with dogs.
One of the saboteurs, Joanne Joss, testified that she believed Pearson was actively encouraging the hounds. She recounted that after Pearson dismounted, he joined the hounds in the gorse and was heard shouting “carry on” multiple times, as if urging them to pursue the fox. Joss also observed Pearson telling the hounds to “hunt on” as he emerged from the gorse, reinforcing her belief that he was deliberately encouraging the hunt.
Defense lawyer Derek Perry argued that Pearson did not encourage the dogs but instead tried to call them back, claiming Pearson was heard shouting “leave it” and blowing his horn to recall the hounds. Perry stated that Pearson’s actions were calm and controlled, and that he did not instruct the hounds to continue the hunt. The recording used as evidence was taken from some distance away, and Perry insisted that Pearson was not heard saying “hunt on.”
Despite these arguments, Magistrate Justice Stephen Corben concluded that Pearson should have had better control over his hounds before they killed the fox. He noted that the prosecution presented credible evidence, including video footage and witness testimony, which demonstrated Pearson’s active role in the illegal hunt. The magistrate emphasized that Pearson’s claim of using a special call to recall the hounds was ineffective in this instance.
As a result, Pearson was convicted of illegal hunting under the Hunting Act 2004 and was fined £6,000, with an additional victim surcharge of £190 and court costs of £620. However, in a subsequent development in March 2023, Pearson’s conviction was overturned by Judge Stephen Climie, who expressed concerns over the Crown’s case. The judge stated that the prosecution failed to prove Pearson’s intent for the dogs to kill the fox but acknowledged that Pearson could have taken more action to prevent the death.
According to reports, Pearson was seen shouting commands such as “carry on” and “hunt on” as his hounds pursued and attacked a fox. Witnesses from Weymouth Animal Rights captured footage of Pearson, dressed in the traditional red coat of a master huntsman, dismounting his horse and approaching the barking hounds near a patch of gorse. The activists noted that Pearson appeared to be encouraging the dogs, which had cornered and killed the fox. The dead animal was subsequently carried out of the undergrowth by Pearson himself.
Legal proceedings revealed that Pearson was leading the South Dorset Hunt through the rural areas when the incident occurred. Magistrates heard that earlier that same day, the same pack of dogs had killed another fox, an event dismissed by police as an unfortunate accident. However, the focus of the court was on the later incident, where evidence showed Pearson’s active involvement in encouraging the dogs to continue their pursuit.
Two hours after most of the hunt had dispersed, hunt saboteurs monitoring the event heard the hounds baying again. One of the animal rights campaigners managed to film the aftermath of the attack, capturing footage of Pearson in his hunting attire dismounting his horse and walking towards the hounds near the gorse. The footage clearly showed Pearson in a position of authority, seemingly urging the dogs to continue their hunt.
Prosecutor Molly Mifsud told the court that Pearson had failed to intervene to stop the dogs from killing the fox, despite being aware that the animals were engaged in a hunt. She emphasized that his actions, including encouraging the hounds and failing to control them, constituted a violation of Section 1 of the Hunting Act 2004, which prohibits hunting wild mammals with dogs.
One of the saboteurs, Joanne Joss, testified that she believed Pearson was actively encouraging the hounds. She recounted that after Pearson dismounted, he joined the hounds in the gorse and was heard shouting “carry on” multiple times, as if urging them to pursue the fox. Joss also observed Pearson telling the hounds to “hunt on” as he emerged from the gorse, reinforcing her belief that he was deliberately encouraging the hunt.
Defense lawyer Derek Perry argued that Pearson did not encourage the dogs but instead tried to call them back, claiming Pearson was heard shouting “leave it” and blowing his horn to recall the hounds. Perry stated that Pearson’s actions were calm and controlled, and that he did not instruct the hounds to continue the hunt. The recording used as evidence was taken from some distance away, and Perry insisted that Pearson was not heard saying “hunt on.”
Despite these arguments, Magistrate Justice Stephen Corben concluded that Pearson should have had better control over his hounds before they killed the fox. He noted that the prosecution presented credible evidence, including video footage and witness testimony, which demonstrated Pearson’s active role in the illegal hunt. The magistrate emphasized that Pearson’s claim of using a special call to recall the hounds was ineffective in this instance.
As a result, Pearson was convicted of illegal hunting under the Hunting Act 2004 and was fined £6,000, with an additional victim surcharge of £190 and court costs of £620. However, in a subsequent development in March 2023, Pearson’s conviction was overturned by Judge Stephen Climie, who expressed concerns over the Crown’s case. The judge stated that the prosecution failed to prove Pearson’s intent for the dogs to kill the fox but acknowledged that Pearson could have taken more action to prevent the death.