Man said to be work for the posh Ledbury Hunt allegedly filmed attacking a saboteur for trying to save a fox in Worcestershire
A MAN is to be interviewed by cops after shocking video allegedly showed a fox hunt employee punching and kicking a protester on the ground last week.
He was identified after footage emerged of a clash between members of the Bristol Hunt Saboteurs and men they claim worked for the Ledbury Hunt after they had allegedly tried to dig out a fox hiding in a badger sett.
The video shows one man with his face covered by a scarf approach the group and suddenly leap towards an activist.
A second clip allegedly shows the same man - now with his face visible - looming over a sab on the floor and repeatedly punching him.
He can then be seen kicking out before running away when horses and huntsmen appear in the field.
The saboteurs claim the assailant was a terrierman employed by the posh hunt.
It is not clear what happened between the two sections of film as the edited video posted on Facebook goes dark in the middle.
Today West Mercia Police said it had not received a complaint from any alleged victim, but a man had agreed to be quizzed under caution.
A force spokesman said: "With regards to the video footage circulated last week, police can confirm that a man is due to be interviewed voluntarily under caution.
"Police have not at this time received any reports from a complainant.
"The enquiry is ongoing and if anyone has any information which could help the police investigation please call 101 quoting referencing 223s of 291216."
The footage is said to have been filmed during the Castlemorton meet in Worcestershire at around midday on December 28.
Saboteurs allege the huntsmen were attempting to "put a fox up" and digging around a "large badger sett where a fox had taken refuge" - but this was not caught on camera.
The national Hunt Saboteurs Association posted the video on Facebook and appealed for information about the identity of the man to pass to West Mercia Police.
The group said: "Hunt saboteurs were attacked by terriermen from the Ledbury Hunt at their Castlemorton meet on Wednesday December 28.
"The unprovoked attack happened after hounds from the hunt had chased a fox into a badger sett.
"Sabs intervened to save the fox and were attacked by the hunt employees.
"This footage clearly shows the unprovoked attack on sabs by one of the terriermen.
"He throws a sab to the ground, punches them repeatedly and kicks out at other sabs nearby.
"We are asking for help to identify this man so that we can pass the information to the police.
"If you know who he is please pm us on Facebook or contact Bristol saboteurs directly via the email address on the video."
The Ledbury Hunt has not responded to requests for a comment.
Last week we told how a dairy farm worker was filmed apparently punching and kicking calves in footage exposed by animal rights activists.
The week before video showed fox hunters swearing and lashing out at saboteurs in a furious clash in Devon.
In September protester Nicola Dawson was injured when she was struck by a horse while trying to sabotage a hunt in Dorset.
We pay for your stories! Do you have a story for The Sun Online news team? Email us at [email protected] or call 0207 782 4368
