Video captured the moment a hunt saboteur punched an 81-year-old pensioner before shouting abuse at him as he struggled to get to his feet.
Saboteur Alexandra Dennis lunged at the older man as he tried to pick something off the ground behind her, then hit him on the head with a video camera.
In video footage provided exclusively to MailOnline, Dennis can be heard swearing as the man, who was disoriented and visibly shaken, replies, “you hit me.”
Dennis was found guilty of assault by hitting following a trial at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court and fined £959, MailOnline has learned. The victim says he remains “emotionally scarred” by her “violent actions.”
Video shows the moment a yacht saboteur found guilty of assault by assault assaulted an 81-year-old man
The Blackmore & Sparkford Vale Hunt were out hunting in Holnest, Dorset on 18th December 2021 when they were attacked by the camouflage wearing hunting saboteurs.
Video shows Dennis attacking the elderly victim when shocked members of the public tried to pull her away from him.
A spokesman for the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt, speaking on behalf of the shocked victim, told MailOnline that the organization is “relieved that justice has been done.”
“This shocking incident highlights the horrific abuses suffered by members of our community at the hands of hunting saboteurs,” the spokesperson said.
“While physically recovered, the elderly victim understandably remains emotionally scarred by Alexandra Dennis’s violent actions.”
The spokesman explains that for many – especially the elderly living in rural areas – trail hunting remains an “important social activity”.
‘[Trail hunting] can be one of the limited ways of interacting in more remote areas of the countryside,” said the representative.
“Unfortunately, there is a small number of people who do not understand this and go to great lengths to intimidate and attack innocent people. We would like to thank the police and the CPS for their professionalism in helping to bring Dennis to justice.”
Alexandra Dennis lunged at the elderly pensioner as he tried to pick something up from the ground directly behind her, then hit him on the head with a video camera
Video footage, provided exclusively to MailOnline, shows Dennis attacking the elderly victim as shocked members of the public tried to pull her away from him
Trail hunting was created in the wake of the 2004 Hunting Act to legally emulate the banned sport of fox hunting as closely as possible.
Under the rules, riders with dogs can legally follow trails laid out with scent, rather than chasing a live animal.
However, should dogs pick up on a fox’s scent and pursue it as a result of the trail, there are no legal repercussions.
The League Against Cruel Sports claims that trail hunting is a cover for illegal hunting, designed to mislead authorities and make the prosecution of illegal hunters very difficult.
The 2004 Hunting Act banned fox hunting with dogs, but violations have been reported since then.
Trail hunting is controversial and while animals are not actually chased, injured or killed, many animal rights activists publicly oppose the practice.
The Countryside Alliance, a rural campaign organization, argues Sunday’s attack underscores the importance of police taking threats from saboteur groups ‘seriously’.
The man fell to the ground when Dennis was heard taunting him as the man, who was disoriented and visibly shaken, said: ‘You hit me’
Polly Portwin, who leads the organisation’s hunting campaign, said: ‘Though few in number, hunt saboteurs are routinely aggressive and often violent towards many within the rural community.
‘Hunt staff, who above all work incredibly hard to maintain and protect the welfare of the animals they care for, regularly face false and false accusations from saboteur groups, as reported in Wiltshire this weekend.
“It cannot be right that these bullies are able to carry out their campaigns to terrorize law-abiding rural residents.
She concluded: “We are urging rural police to take their activities incredibly seriously, both for the safety of the hunting community and the general public.”
Dennis was found guilty of assault by hitting after a trial at Weymouth Magistrates Court and fined £959. The victim says he remains ’emotionally scarred’ by her ‘violent actions’
The Countryside Alliance, a rural campaign organization, argues Sunday’s attack further emphasizes the importance of police taking threats from hunting saboteur groups ‘seriously’
Ms Portwin noted how two weeks ago police advised another hunting party to move its activities following a ‘hate campaign against local clerics by hunting saboteurs’.
The hunt saboteurs had posted details of the group’s carol service at St George’s Church in Clun. They also shared Reverend Caroline Harrison’s email address and asked activists to reach out and complain.
The hunt received messages from animal rights groups and activists around the world, including in Canada and New Zealand.
Despite the threats, the service went ahead last weekend, Ms Portwin explains.
A spokesman for the United Pack has since criticized the activists, saying: ‘We had no doubt that our Christmas carols would continue this year.
“It’s an important part of the party calendar for many local people here, whether they follow the hunt or not. We would never bow to threats from online bullies, but we understand how unpleasant it can be for anyone who is targeted.”
The United Pack says last weekend’s event was “hands down the best supported service” the group has “ever” had.
Officials say turnout was “higher than normal” and the group had more new arrivals than in previous years – “which only reinforces the strength of the countryside, community spirit and this important time of year.”
The spokesperson added: ‘The sermon was beautifully crafted and the 100 or so people in the congregation all agreed that the rural community in the Welsh Marches was much better off for a joyful and heartfelt service’.