Kimblewick Hunt will still meet on Boxing Day despite president's animal cruelty conviction

Hunt saboteurs captured footage of a fox being mistreated by hunt members

Ian Parkinson and Mark Vincent (president of the hunt) were filmed brutally dragging out a fox trapped in an artificial earth, before releasing it in front of baying hounds to provide ‘sport’ for the hunt on New Year’s Day. They both received suspended prison sentences last month.

The hunt is due to meet in Cholesbury, Buckinghamshire and the League Against Cruel Sports, a leading animal welfare charity in the UK, is calling for the Hunting Act to be strengthened.

Chris Luffingham, director of campaigns at the League, said: “To pull a fox out from a safe place by its tail and release it in front of a pack of hounds is inconceivable.

“The deliberate suffering caused to the fox demonstrates a blatant disregard for the legislation which was put in place to protect British wildlife.

“Therefore, there is a clear need to strengthen the Hunting Act, including the introduction of custodial sentences.”

Figures collated by the charity show a total of 184 suspected illegal hunting incidents were recorded across England, Wales and Scotland and took place across 50 counties.

Since the start of the fox hunting season in late October and 17th December, the League says it has received 29 reports of deliberate interference with badger setts by hunts.

The charity says that foxes chased by hunts often seek refuge in burrow like structures, including artificial tunnels and badger setts and damage to these structures is a clear attempt to either prevent the fox escaping a hunt or to remove them from their place of refuge.

Mr Luffingham added: “These figures show that illegal fox hunting is widespread throughout Britain, and not just committed by a small number of miscreant hunts.

“The hunts still do it because they know there are loopholes they can use to exploit the law, and just brush off fox deaths as ‘accidents’.

“To properly stop this activity it is time that we stand united against hunting and offer wildlife the protection it deserves – urging our politicians to strengthen the ban.”