Men deny illegal hunt at Duke of Beaufort estate
PAA master huntsman and his assistant have denied hunting a fox that was killed by hounds on an estate belonging to the Duke of Beaufort.
William Bryer, 49, and Mitch Prosser, 28, from Badminton in South Gloucestershire, denied charges of hunting a wild mammal with dogs after the hunt on 20 December 2025 at the Badminton Estate.
Anthony Tuck, 51, from Chippenham in Wiltshire, also pleaded not guilty at Bristol Magistrates' Court to encouraging commission of the offence, by retrieving and assisting in disposal of the animal carcass.
The case has been adjourned, with a trial due to take place over two days on 21 April next year at the same court.
Michael Collins, prosecuting, said: "These allegations arise from a Beaufort Hunt event on the Badminton Estate dating back to December 20 last year.
"The Crown case is that the fox was hunted and killed by Beaufort Hunt hounds."
He said Bryer, the master huntsman, and Prosser, the whipper-in, were "responsible for control of the hounds" and "failed to call the hounds off".
Follow BBC Bristol on Facebook, X and Instagram. Send your story ideas to us on email or via WhatsApp on 0800 313 4630.
