TOM LEDBURY FROM CORSHAM INVOLVED IN HORRIFIC FOX HUNT CRUELTY INCIDENT NEAR MELKSHAM

Thomas Ledbury, a resident of Pine Close in Corsham, has been convicted in connection with a disturbing incident involving the illegal hunting of a fox. Born around 1985, Ledbury was part of a group of huntsmen responsible for a brutal act that drew widespread condemnation from animal welfare advocates and law enforcement authorities alike.

On December 24, 2020, near Melksham, a video captured by hunt saboteurs revealed Ledbury supervising a group of hunt members as they carried out a heinous act against a terrified fox. The footage showed a person removing the fox from its den, a process that must have been distressing and traumatic for the animal. Ledbury was seen watching intently as the animal was then thrown into a pack of baying hounds, an act that is both illegal and morally reprehensible.

The video clearly depicted the fox being bitten on its right hind upper leg and upper neck as it was launched into the pack of hounds. The scene was not only violent but also deeply disturbing, illustrating the cruelty inflicted upon the animal. An expert witness testified in court that the fox was alive when it was pulled from its burrow, and that it would have experienced intense fear and excruciating pain as the hounds tore into it. The witness explained that the fox would have eventually lost consciousness and died from its injuries.

Ledbury, who was employed as a terrierman by the now-defunct Avon Vale Hunt, pleaded guilty to aiding and abetting the commission of an offence that caused unnecessary suffering to a fox. His role in supervising and overseeing the hunt activities was a key factor in the case.

In addition to Ledbury, two other men were convicted in relation to the same incident. Oliver Thompson, from Faringdon in Oxfordshire, was found guilty of causing unnecessary suffering to a fox and received a 20-week prison sentence, which was suspended. Stuart Radbourne, the then Hunt Master of Avon Vale Hunt and a known wildlife persecutor from Chippenham, Wiltshire, was also convicted and received a suspended 18-week custodial sentence. Both men’s involvement in the cruelty was confirmed during the trial.

Another individual, Charlie Ball, was initially prosecuted in connection with the incident. However, the current status of his case remains unclear. Wiltshire Hunt Saboteurs also identified a fifth man, Rob Shearring, who was seen in the video wielding a spade and assisting with the illegal kill. Despite his apparent involvement, charges have not yet been brought against him.

The Avon Vale Hunt was disbanded in February 2023 after it was expelled from the sport’s governing body following the leak of a video showing two foxes being dug out of their earths and thrown to hounds on December 20, 2022. The footage and subsequent investigations highlighted the ongoing cruelty associated with certain hunting practices.

Chief Inspector Will Mitchell of the RSPCA’s Special Operations Unit, which led the investigation under Operation Aurora, commented on the case: “This shocking hunt video shows the lack of compassion and empathy for this fox who is thrown to a pack of baying hounds to be ripped apart. It’s really worrying to think anyone may find treating an animal this way fun.”

As for the sentencing, Ledbury was given a 12-month community order and was required to complete 240 hours of unpaid work. Despite the severity of the incident, the court’s decision reflects ongoing efforts to address animal cruelty within hunting communities.

It is also noteworthy that Ledbury runs a business called Tom Ledbury Maintenance and Installations, which currently holds a contract with Bath and North East Somerset Council to repair and maintain street furniture and park infrastructure, highlighting the contrast between his professional life and the cruelty he was involved in.