JOHNNY GREENALL AND GLEN MORRIS CAUSE OUTRAGE IN ASHBOURNE AND STAFFORDSHIRE FOR ILLEGAL FOX HUNTING

In a significant case that has stirred controversy and drawn widespread attention, Johnny Greenall and Glen Morris, two individuals associated with the traditional fox hunting community, were found guilty of illegal hunting activities near Hilton in Staffordshire. The incident took place in October 2011, but the repercussions and legal proceedings culminated in 2012, highlighting ongoing tensions between conservation efforts and traditional hunting practices.

Johnny Greenall, born in July 1960, is a prominent figure residing at Wootton Hall Estate in Wootton, Ellastone, Ashbourne, with the postal code DE6 2GW. He is notably the son of the Baron of Daresbury and has held the position of hunt master within the Meynell and South Staffordshire Hunt. His associate, Glen Morris, born around 1969, is a hunt field member living at Ludgate Street in Tutbury, Burton-on-Trent, with the postal code DE13 9NG. Both men were secretly filmed by anti-hunt protesters attempting to kill foxes using hounds, an activity that is explicitly illegal under the Hunting Act of 2004.

The footage, which was played in court, depicted members of the Meynell and South Staffordshire Hunt encircling a wooded area at Suffield Farm in Sutton on the Hill. The video showed the hounds entering the woodland in pursuit of young foxes, a practice commonly referred to as ‘cubbing’. Witnesses observed a fox attempting to escape the hunt, only to be frightened back into the woods by the huntsmen, who were seen clapping their hands in an apparent effort to drive the animal back into danger.

Despite denying any breach of the Hunting Act, both Greenall and Morris were convicted after the court reviewed the evidence. The judge clarified that Greenall, as the hunt master, was undeniably present at the scene. During police interviews, Greenall offered an innocent explanation for his presence but chose not to testify in court, a decision the judge suggested was strategic, implying that his testimony might not withstand scrutiny.

Reactions to the verdict were mixed. Tim Bonner, representing the Countryside Alliance, expressed disappointment, stating, “I am surprised at the verdict when there is no evidence in which foxes are shown to be pursued, let alone being caught by the hounds.” Conversely, Steve Harris, head of enforcement at The League Against Cruel Sports, welcomed the outcome, praising Derbyshire Police for their thorough investigation and the Crown Prosecution Service for allowing the court to determine the truth.

In terms of sentencing, Johnny Greenall was fined £3,515, while Glen Morris received a penalty of £515. The case also prompted Greenall to step down from his role as chairman of the Meynell & South Staffordshire Hunt, citing the court proceedings as the primary reason for his resignation.

Additional context reveals that Johnny Greenall owns the Duncombe Arms pub and restaurant located on Main Road in Ellastone, Ashbourne, with his wife Laura Greenall. Their family remains involved in the hospitality and sporting industries, with their son, Jack Greenall, a former jockey, owning the Pheasant Inn in Hungerford, Reading. The incident has cast a shadow over the traditional hunting community in Ashbourne and Staffordshire, raising questions about the future of such practices amid increasing legal and public scrutiny.