AARON FOOKES AND STUART RADBOURNE FROM TEMPLECOMBE INVOLVED IN FOX HUNTING HORROR IN WILTSHIRE

In a disturbing case that has shocked wildlife conservationists and animal rights advocates alike, two men from the Templecombe area, Aaron Fookes and Stuart Radbourne, have been found guilty of heinous wildlife offences involving the illegal hunting and killing of a fox. The incident, which took place in the vicinity of Brokerswood, Wiltshire, has garnered significant media attention and led to criminal proceedings against the pair.

According to court reports, Aaron Fookes, born on December 16, 1993, and residing at Townsend Green, Henstridge, Templecombe BA8 0TT, along with Stuart Radbourne, born on April 11, 1984, of 45 The Common, Chippenham SN15 2JJ, were involved in a brutal act of animal cruelty that was captured on video and subsequently leaked to anti-hunt activists. The footage, recorded on December 20, 2022, shows Fookes kneeling at the entrance of a badger sett, with his arms reaching into the earth, extracting a live fox from its den. Meanwhile, Radbourne is heard making loud whooping noises as the scene unfolds.

What followed was even more disturbing: the fox, clearly terrified and distressed, was thrown into a pack of hounds by the two men. The hounds then attacked and killed the animal, an act that has been widely condemned. The video evidence was instrumental in prosecuting the men, with Crown prosecutor Patrick Schneider confirming that the footage was taken during a hunt in Brokerswood, Wiltshire, and later circulated on social media platforms.

Legal representatives for the defendants, including solicitor Sam Harkness, argued that the intense media coverage had devastated their lives. Both men faced significant personal and professional repercussions, with Fookes losing his job and leaving the county due to threats, while Radbourne struggled with mounting debts. Radbourne, who has a prior conviction for interfering with a badger sett in 2013, was fined £300 at Chippenham Magistrates’ Court for that offence.

In the recent proceedings, Fookes, who is now employed as an agricultural contractor earning approximately £2,000 per month, received an 18-month community order and was fined £833 for animal cruelty. He is also required to complete 200 hours of unpaid work. Radbourne, who earns around £1,000 monthly as a farmer and equestrian, was fined £384, with additional costs and surcharges, after being charged with hunting a wild mammal with dogs.

Further legal developments include the case of Alex Warden, a man from North Bradley, Trowbridge, who appeared in court in July 2023, denying charges of illegal hunting and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal. Warden has opted for a jury trial at Salisbury Crown Court, scheduled for December 21, 2023, and has been granted bail with restrictions against participating in trail-hunting activities in Wiltshire.

Additionally, Stuart Radbourne faced another court appearance on October 27, 2023, for an earlier offence of animal cruelty. He pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to a fox in Melksham on December 24, 2020, by having it thrown to and savaged by hounds. Due to the severity of the offence, which involved the presence of a child and was recorded and shared publicly, Radbourne was sentenced to 18 weeks in prison, suspended for 12 months. During this period, he is required to complete 200 hours of unpaid work, pay £750 in court costs, and contribute £128 to victim services.

The incident has also led to broader repercussions for the Avon Vale Hunt, which was barred from operation by the Hound Sports Regulatory Authority (HSRA) in February 2023 following the circulation of footage depicting illegal hunting activities. The case continues to draw attention to the ongoing issues surrounding illegal fox hunting and wildlife protection in the region.