MARK HANKINSON'S SHOCKING FOX HUNTING CONVICTION IN SHERBORNE COURT
| Red Rose Database
Sherborne Animal Abuser
Mark Hankinson, a senior huntsman born on November 14, 1960, and residing at Frampton Farm on Chetnole Road in Leigh, Sherborne, has been found guilty of encouraging illegal fox hunting activities. The conviction stems from his involvement in online webinars where he was caught on tape advising fellow hunters on how to evade the law under the Hunting Act.
Hankinson, who is a director of the Masters of Foxhounds Association, was recorded during two private webinars held in August 2020, which were later leaked online. These recordings captured him addressing approximately 100 senior hunters, providing guidance that prosecutors argued was aimed at facilitating illegal fox hunts. The recordings were played in court during a three-day trial at Westminster Magistrates Court in September 2021.
The prosecution contended that Hankinson’s advice was explicitly aimed at helping hunts avoid detection and prosecution by law enforcement. In particular, he emphasized the importance of maintaining the illusion of trail laying, which is a legal activity, to mask illegal hunting with dogs. The defense argued that his comments were meant to instruct hunters on how to respond if saboteurs, or anti-hunting activists, disrupted legal hunts, rather than encouraging illegal activity.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram, presiding over the case, stated, “I am sure that the defendant through his words was giving advice on how to illegally hunt with dogs.” He further explained, “In my judgement he was clearly encouraging the mirage of trail laying to act as cover for illegal hunting.” The court found that Hankinson’s words, particularly his emphasis on making trail laying “plausible,” indicated an intent to promote illegal hunting under the guise of lawful trail laying.
Hankinson was fined £1,000 and ordered to contribute £2,500 towards legal costs. The Masters of Foxhounds Association announced that it was considering an appeal of the verdict, with Chairman Andrew Osborne stating that a review would be conducted to reassure landowners and stakeholders that hunts operate within legal boundaries.
The case gained significant attention after the videos of Hankinson’s webinars were leaked to anti-hunting groups and subsequently posted online. The court proceedings included the playing of video clips, which revealed Hankinson advising participants that “if you’ve got saboteurs out with you in any shape or form, we need to have clear, visible, plausible trail laying being done throughout the day.” He also mentioned that “it’s a lot easier to create a smokescreen if you’ve got more than one trail layer operating,” which prosecutors argued was a clear strategy to conceal illegal hunting activities.
Hankinson explained that his reference to “smokescreen” was about laying dummy trails to confuse saboteurs and allow legitimate hunting to continue. However, prosecutor Gregory Gordon emphasized that Hankinson’s advice was capable of encouraging illegal hunts “behind a smoke screen of trail hunting,” and that his words demonstrated an intention to promote unlawful activity.
Judge Tan Ikram concluded that Hankinson’s advice to make trail laying “plausible” was only necessary if it was a “sham and a fiction,” and noted the significant impact of his words given the large audience. The League Against Cruel Sports condemned the case, asserting that it proved beyond doubt that “trail hunting is nothing but a sham,” designed to deceive and disguise illegal activities.
Following the police investigation, several organizations, including the National Trust, Forestry England, the Lake District National Park, and Natural Resources Wales, withdrew permission for hunts to cross their land. The court’s verdict is expected to prompt a review of this policy, with a motion to ban trail hunting on National Trust land scheduled for debate later this month.
In July 2022, Hankinson’s appeal against his conviction was successful. The appeal judge, Gregory Perrins, acknowledged that Hankinson’s words could be interpreted as encouraging illegal hunting, but also accepted that he was referring to laying dummy trails to fool saboteurs. Judge Perrins noted that Hankinson’s role within the Hunting Office was to ensure compliance with the law and that it was unlikely they would host webinars advising on how to circumvent the ban.
Despite the successful appeal, the League Against Cruel Sports urged the government to strengthen the Hunting Act further. Andy Knott, the league’s chief executive, emphasized that only by closing loopholes and outlawing “trail hunting” entirely could illegal hunting be effectively stopped and those involved in wildlife persecution brought to justice.
Hankinson’s downfall was partly due to his participation in these webinars, which included other notable figures such as Benjamin Mancroft, Richard Tyacke, Richard Gurney, Paul Jelley, Phil Davies, Will Day, and Alice Bowden. Over 100 hunt staff and masters attended the sessions, which were later removed from YouTube following a copyright claim by the Hunting Office, though copies remain accessible elsewhere.
Hankinson, who is a director of the Masters of Foxhounds Association, was recorded during two private webinars held in August 2020, which were later leaked online. These recordings captured him addressing approximately 100 senior hunters, providing guidance that prosecutors argued was aimed at facilitating illegal fox hunts. The recordings were played in court during a three-day trial at Westminster Magistrates Court in September 2021.
The prosecution contended that Hankinson’s advice was explicitly aimed at helping hunts avoid detection and prosecution by law enforcement. In particular, he emphasized the importance of maintaining the illusion of trail laying, which is a legal activity, to mask illegal hunting with dogs. The defense argued that his comments were meant to instruct hunters on how to respond if saboteurs, or anti-hunting activists, disrupted legal hunts, rather than encouraging illegal activity.
Deputy Chief Magistrate Tan Ikram, presiding over the case, stated, “I am sure that the defendant through his words was giving advice on how to illegally hunt with dogs.” He further explained, “In my judgement he was clearly encouraging the mirage of trail laying to act as cover for illegal hunting.” The court found that Hankinson’s words, particularly his emphasis on making trail laying “plausible,” indicated an intent to promote illegal hunting under the guise of lawful trail laying.
Hankinson was fined £1,000 and ordered to contribute £2,500 towards legal costs. The Masters of Foxhounds Association announced that it was considering an appeal of the verdict, with Chairman Andrew Osborne stating that a review would be conducted to reassure landowners and stakeholders that hunts operate within legal boundaries.
The case gained significant attention after the videos of Hankinson’s webinars were leaked to anti-hunting groups and subsequently posted online. The court proceedings included the playing of video clips, which revealed Hankinson advising participants that “if you’ve got saboteurs out with you in any shape or form, we need to have clear, visible, plausible trail laying being done throughout the day.” He also mentioned that “it’s a lot easier to create a smokescreen if you’ve got more than one trail layer operating,” which prosecutors argued was a clear strategy to conceal illegal hunting activities.
Hankinson explained that his reference to “smokescreen” was about laying dummy trails to confuse saboteurs and allow legitimate hunting to continue. However, prosecutor Gregory Gordon emphasized that Hankinson’s advice was capable of encouraging illegal hunts “behind a smoke screen of trail hunting,” and that his words demonstrated an intention to promote unlawful activity.
Judge Tan Ikram concluded that Hankinson’s advice to make trail laying “plausible” was only necessary if it was a “sham and a fiction,” and noted the significant impact of his words given the large audience. The League Against Cruel Sports condemned the case, asserting that it proved beyond doubt that “trail hunting is nothing but a sham,” designed to deceive and disguise illegal activities.
Following the police investigation, several organizations, including the National Trust, Forestry England, the Lake District National Park, and Natural Resources Wales, withdrew permission for hunts to cross their land. The court’s verdict is expected to prompt a review of this policy, with a motion to ban trail hunting on National Trust land scheduled for debate later this month.
In July 2022, Hankinson’s appeal against his conviction was successful. The appeal judge, Gregory Perrins, acknowledged that Hankinson’s words could be interpreted as encouraging illegal hunting, but also accepted that he was referring to laying dummy trails to fool saboteurs. Judge Perrins noted that Hankinson’s role within the Hunting Office was to ensure compliance with the law and that it was unlikely they would host webinars advising on how to circumvent the ban.
Despite the successful appeal, the League Against Cruel Sports urged the government to strengthen the Hunting Act further. Andy Knott, the league’s chief executive, emphasized that only by closing loopholes and outlawing “trail hunting” entirely could illegal hunting be effectively stopped and those involved in wildlife persecution brought to justice.
Hankinson’s downfall was partly due to his participation in these webinars, which included other notable figures such as Benjamin Mancroft, Richard Tyacke, Richard Gurney, Paul Jelley, Phil Davies, Will Day, and Alice Bowden. Over 100 hunt staff and masters attended the sessions, which were later removed from YouTube following a copyright claim by the Hunting Office, though copies remain accessible elsewhere.