Somerset huntsman admits attack on monitor
A hunt whipper-in who attacked the head of operations of the League Against Cruel Sports because he did not want to be filmed while trail hunting has admitted common assault .
David Bevan, 52, from the West Somerset Vale Foxhounds was given a one-year conditional discharge and ordered to pay £150 compensation and £85 towards prosecution costs when he appeared at Taunton Magistrates Court. The court took into account his previous good character and medical history.
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David Bevan
Magistrates heard Somerset-based Paul Tillsley was attempting to film the hunt on a bridle way at Woodlands Hill in West Somerset at 11.52am on March 29 this year when the assault took place.
Sarah Rhodes, prosecuting, said Mr Tillsley stepped back off the bridleway to allow the hunt master and a following horseman to pass.
The master went by but the following rider, later identified as Bevan, repeatedly goaded Mr Tillsley with his horse, “barging” him and pushing him into the gorse.
Miss Rhodes told the court: “The man then started to strike out at Mr Tillsley with his whip. The whip’s antler handle made contact with Mr Tillsely’s head.”
Bevan then rode off and a “shocked and stunned” Mr Tillsley began to beat a retreat down the hill.
But he then felt a horse close behind him again and another blow to the back of his head. Mr Tillsley put up his hand and felt blood.
Bevan then rode in front of Mr Tillsley, allegedly ranting and calling for help.
Miss Rhodes said Mr Tillsley wanted to get away but Bevan followed on foot, striking with his whip and hitting Mr Tillsley’s arm.
Mr Tillsley was knocked to the ground by the blow and Bevan then sat on him, calling for help.
Other hunt followers arrived and Mr Tillsley’s camera was taken from him.
Bevan then shook his hand and asked him to promise not to return. Mr Tillsley agreed because he was dazed and shaken.
He called an ambulance and was taken to Bridgwater hospital’s minor injuries unit where one wound in his head was closed with glue. He had other superficial injuries.
Tim Hayden, defending, said Tillsley’s filming “rankled” and Bevan had asked him to stop.
The solicitor also said Bevan, who lives at the hunt kennels at Stogursey, was prescribed medication for a medical condition a week later, and it may have been significant that he was not on it at the time. Mr Hayden said the camera was never intended to be permanently confiscated and the Master took it to Bridgwater police station later that day.
Speaking for the League Against Cruel Sports after the case Steve Taylor said: “We are very disappointed by the sentence and also by the Crown Prosecution Service’s decision not to bring a charge of robbery over the camera.”
7 Comments
by BoLennox
Thursday, September 08 2011, 7:35PM
“*sorry if this is repeated - it's my third or fourth time of trying....)
He's part of the rural, feral gang culture prevalent in these parts. Had it been Tottenham, he might have received an appropriate sentence and the nationals would have covered it.”
by FredMandrake
Thursday, September 08 2011, 6:13PM
“I was in Court and heard Mr Hayden's plea of mitigation on behalf of Mr Bevan. He stated that Mr Tillsley was aware of Mr Bevan's sexual orientation as it was mentioned during the incident. It would appear that the only possible implication of this was to imply that Mr Tillsley had somehow upset Mr Bevan my mentioning it.
If this is the case, then Mr Hayden's statement, informed of course by Mr Bevan, is disingenuous in the extreme. In fact Mr Tillsley had not previously met Mr Bevan and knew nothing about him at a personal level.
It is to be hoped that the other elements of the mitigation had rather more credence!”
by Lucy2270
Wednesday, September 07 2011, 5:24PM
“I must also apologise for any spelling errors in my previous post. I have a very old and worn laptop and the keys are hanging on for dear life!
Back to the topic in question. Hunts will always stand together and cover their own backsides, no matter how appalling abuse or conduct from someone is. As long as they are pro then they are protected. A bit like this stranged and freaky cults you hear about. People know bad things go on but nobody has the backbone to stand up and say no.
Anybody else would lose their job now. Bevan was at work when this assault took place and yet i highly doubt that the West Somerset will sack him, no doubt he will simply be 'rehomed' at yet another hunt. Really, do your homework on this guy......many, many people here are not at all surprised. You wait, because he also likes his drink and really is a catastrophe waiting to happen.”
by chrisbeardy
Wednesday, September 07 2011, 4:12PM
“exactly, lucy. bevan has a history of abuse towards humans and animals, yet he can get away with injury and robbery as easy as you please. It has struck me that the average fine for illegal hunting is around £500 and the average fine for thuggery towards monitors is £250. If a hunt can steal film evidence of their illegal hunting, bash people over the head while doing so, mis-use tools of the trade ( horse and whip) to intimidate and injure people and then pay only half of the illegal hunting fine, everyones a winner, as they say ! Please give the league more info so that maybe an appeal can he made on the sentence. phone 01483524250 or info@league.org.uk”
by chrisbeardy
Wednesday, September 07 2011, 4:02PM
“exactly, lucy. bevan has a history of abuse towards humans and animals, yet he can get away with injury and robbery as easy as you please. It has struck me that the average fine for illegal hunting is around £500 and the average fine for thuggery towards monitors is £250. If a hunt can steal film evidence of their illegal hunting, bash people over the head while doing so, mis-use tools of the trade ( horse and whip) to intimidate and injure people and then pay only half of the illegal hunting fine, everyones a winner, as they say !”
by Lucy2270
Wednesday, September 07 2011, 2:34PM
“Previous good character?! He was chucked out of his job here in North Devon after abusing horses and hounds in his care. A complaint was even logged with the RSPCA. His mental health has been questionable for years. I really hope that the prosection have down all their homework on this man. The local village where he lived several years ago all but threw a party when he left. He's completely barking and hsould never be in charge of animals or firearms.”
by chrisbeardy
Wednesday, September 07 2011, 9:38AM
“How bevan got away without a robbery charge is a mystery. He carried out a sustained assault on a hunt monitor, chasing him and wounding him with a weapon, stealing his camera and holding him down so that others could help him. That is robbery, which should carry a custodial sentence. Common assault does not go anywhere near describing this offence, where Mr Bevan used a weapon - his whip - allowed to be carried by huntsment o control hounds. At the very least, he should have been banned from hunting for the period of his conditional discharge. A fine amounting to £225 is less than a court imposed speeding fine for someone going too fast on a dual carriageway. The hunt members will happily pay this fine in celebration of the heroic actions of their huntsman in injuring and seeing off a monitor of their law breaking activities. Sahme on the police and the courts for allowing bevan to get away like this without severe penalties that might have more accurately reflected the seriousness of his offence.”