A fox hunting trial has been thrown out of court over failings by the Crown Prosecution Service.
Duncan and Verity Drewett, both senior members of the Vale of White Horse Hunt, were due to stand trial at Swindon Magistrates’ Court today (Monday).
Mr Drewitt, 54, was accused of hunting foxes, whilst his wife Mrs Drewett, 44, was accused of both fox hunting and knowingly permitting her land to be used for hunting.
Covert cameras, installed by The Hunt Investigation Team (HIT) and Keep The Ban, captured alleged illegal hunting around a barn close to their home in Bentham Lane, Purton, on 5 January 2022.
Prosecutor Tom Power asked the bench for an adjournment on the basis that a key witness in the case suffered a stroke earlier this month and is required to attend.
But solicitor Stephen Welford opposed the application, requesting that the court refuses it on the basis that the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) could have taken steps to allow proceedings to move forward.
He said that the CPS could have submitted a hearsay application and obtained medical evidence relating to the stroke victim, an application which would have allowed the trial to go ahead.
Mr Welford also raised concerns about the fact the police officer most involved in building the case was not warned to attend court, so failed to attend. The same went for a police staff member who was involved in managing the video evidence – who was required “for continuity”.
He said the CPS has “done nothing to allow this trial to proceed” and suggested that an adjournment of up to six months would have a “significant impact” on Mrs Drewett’s already declining mental health.
The magistrates, after a short deliberation, decided to refuse the application for an adjournment. Mr Power subsequently offered no evidence and the case was dismissed.
A charge of fox hunting against Lady Sophie Scruton was dropped on a previous date.
