MEMBERS of a local hunt say they were “baffled” by messages used as evidence of illegal hunting during a joint meet in Hartpury at the start of the year.

The Ledbury Hunt said it was “entirely unaware” of a huntsman being prosecuted this month for hunting live quarry with dogs on the edge of the Forest back in January.

John Oliver Finnegan of the Leicestershire-based Quorn Hunt was convicted at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday, December 7.

After messages from his seized mobile phone showed he intended to hunt foxes during the meet, Mr Finnegan pleaded guilty and was given a £1,331 fine.

The meet took place less than a fortnight after the Ledbury Hunt’s traditional Boxing Day meet in the town, during which joint huntmaster David Redvers, who owns a 750-acre farm near Hartpury, told the crowd “we have been able to continue hunting by trail hunting”.

Asked about Mr Finnegan’s prosecution, a spokesperson said the hunt was “surprised and concerned” at the news, and “baffled by the alleged content” of the divulged messages from his phone.

The spokesperson insisted the Ledbury had laid trails on the day, “and was intent only on legal hunting, as it has been since the Hunting Act came into force”.

Herefordshire Hunt Sabs (saboteurs) claimed the Ledbury Hunt could not have been ignorant of Mr Finnegan’s intentions, and that the day’s hunting took place partly on Mr Redvers’ land.

The group said on its Facebook group: “Hunt meets are arranged at the beginning of each season, so on January 7 Ollie Finnegan did not just rock up and decide off his own bat to hunt foxes.

“Finnegan is a ‘hunt servant’ and his job is to carry out the wishes of the huntmasters whose country he is hunting.”

The hunt’s bid to once more meet on Ledbury High Street this Boxing Day has yet to be approved by Herefordshire Council.

The Ledbury Hunt statement reads in full:

“The Ledbury Hunt was surprised and concerned to hear allegations relating to a joint meet with the Quorn last year.

“The Ledbury Hunt was entirely unaware of any prosecution and is baffled by the alleged content of any private messages between the Quorn huntsman and another party.

“The Ledbury Hunt had laid trails and was intent only on legal hunting as it has been since the Hunting Act came into force.“