PAUL OLIVER AND HANNAH ROSE OF SOUTH HEREFORDSHIRE HUNT EXPOSED FOR FOX CUB CRUELTY IN HEREFORDSHIRE AND ABERGAVENNY

In a significant breakthrough for wildlife protection and animal rights activists, four individuals associated with the now-defunct South Herefordshire Hunt have been convicted of heinous acts of cruelty towards fox cubs. The case, which garnered widespread attention, centered around the illegal capture and killing of vulnerable fox cubs, with evidence revealing disturbing practices carried out by those involved.

Paul Oliver, born circa 1978 and identified as the master of hounds for the South Herefordshire Hunt, was found guilty on four counts of animal cruelty. The court heard that Oliver was responsible for allowing his hounds to kill four fox cubs, a practice that he facilitated by capturing the young animals and bringing them to the hunt’s kennels. The prosecution presented compelling footage obtained by the Hunt Investigation Team (HIT), a relatively new animal welfare organization comprising former military personnel and investigative experts, which played a crucial role in securing the convictions.

HIT had previously received covert training in investigative techniques and had set up surveillance devices on Oliver’s Land Rover following a tip-off. Their surveillance led them to a site in May 2016 where Oliver was suspected of catching fox cubs. Additionally, cameras installed at the hunt’s kennels captured footage of Oliver retrieving live fox cubs from a crate and taking them into the kennels to be used for blooding the hounds. The footage also showed Oliver disposing of the mutilated bodies of the cubs in a wheelie bin, a disturbing act that underscored the brutality of the crimes.

The court was informed that the activists, after consulting legal experts and animal welfare organizations, decided not to recover the cubs themselves, citing concerns that such actions could be classified as theft. They also expressed skepticism about police resources being sufficient to pursue the case further, which contributed to their decision to rely on the evidence collected through covert operations.

HIT members, who faced threats of retaliation, were cautious during the trial, with one member giving evidence from behind a screen. Among those involved in the investigation was terrierman Paul Reece, born circa 1970, of Grove View, Usk Road, Chepstow. Reece was filmed delivering a fox cub to the kennels. Also present was Nathan Parry, born around 1978, of Brynarw Estate, Abergavenny, who was surprisingly acquitted of all charges after claiming he believed the foxes would be released into the wild. Parry’s defense was accepted by the court, which found his account plausible.

Julie Elmore, born circa 1963, of Brynarw Estate, Cwmyoy, Abergavenny, and Hannah Rose, born circa 1988, of Sutton Crosses, Long Sutton, Spalding PE12, both admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to the fox cubs. They received conditional discharges and were ordered to pay costs of £50, with the judge noting that their actions appeared motivated by consideration for the animals involved.

The court also imposed a financial penalty, requiring the convicted individuals to pay a total of £300 in costs and a £115 victim surcharge. The judge emphasized the severity of their actions, condemning the cruelty inflicted upon the defenseless cubs.

The case drew condemnation from wildlife protection organizations. Martin Sims, director of investigations at the League Against Cruel Sports and former head of the police’s National Wildlife Crime Unit, stated, “We believe the incidents show that hunts are still hunting as the poor fox cubs were thrown into the kennels to give the hounds a taste for blood. The barbarity of these incidents is sickening and will horrify the vast majority of the British public who are overwhelmingly opposed to fox hunting.”

Deborah Marshall, spokesperson for HIT, expressed relief that justice had been served after a lengthy legal process. She highlighted the widespread nature of such cruelty, noting that the capture of fox cubs for training hounds and the destruction of healthy hounds to make way for younger ones are ongoing issues across Britain. Marshall reaffirmed HIT’s commitment to exposing wildlife cruelty and continuing investigations.

Following the revelations, the Masters of Foxhounds Association suspended the South Herefordshire Hunt, which has since disbanded. A spokesperson for the association condemned Oliver’s actions as “completely disgraceful” and stated that such conduct has no place in responsible hunting practices. The case underscores the ongoing battle between animal welfare advocates and traditional hunting groups, with authorities and organizations committed to eradicating cruelty from the sport.