Moment hunt supporter is caught on video punching saboteur in the face

This is the moment a hunt supporter was caught on camera punching a saboteur in the face.

Philip Walters had been monitoring the prestigious Pytchley Hunt, which dates back more than 300 years, when he was attacked while he was sat in his car.

Marc Birney, 43, approached the vehicle as animal activists monitored the hunt and banged on the driver's door window as he shouted: 'Knock, knock!'.

When the hunt saboteur wound down his window, Birney reached in, snatched his sunglasses from his head and punched him twice to the side of his face.

A court heard Birney only stopped the assault when other members of the North London Hunt Saboteurs went to intervene.

He then got back into his black Ford Puma with another man and a woman and drove away from the scene in Cottesbrook, Northamptonshire, on March 18 last year.

Mr Walters suffered minor injuries and Birney, of Pipewell, Northamptonshire, was charged with one count of assault by beating following an investigation by police.

He pleaded not guilty to the offence but was convicted following a trial at Northampton Magistrates' Court on June 12.

On Thursday he was fined £300, ordered to pay the victim £200 compensation and ordered to pay other costs totalling £320.

The lead investigator for Northamptonshire Police on Friday branded the sentence handed down as 'disappointing'.

PC Chloe Gillies of the Rural Crime Team, said: 'I am pleased Marc Birney was found guilty of this offence at court as this type of behaviour is totally unacceptable and there is never an excuse to assault someone.

'Although the sentence is disappointing, I understand the limitations which resulted in it and I hope the victim in this case feels some sense of justice at Birney being convicted of his crime.

'This was an unprovoked attack on the victim and Birney is fortunate that his actions didn't have more serious consequences.

What is the legal status of hunting in the UK?

The Hunting Act 2004 is the law which bans chasing wild mammals with dogs in England and Wales – this basically means that fox hunting, deer hunting, hare hunting, hare coursing and mink hunting are all illegal, as they all are allegedly cruel sports based on dogs chasing wild mammals.

The introduction of the Hunting Act followed an extensive campaign spanning 80 years.

But trail hunting – which replicates normal hunting but without an animal being chased or killed – is still allowed. 

It involves people on foot or horseback following a scent along a predetermined route with hounds or beagles.  

However, trail hunting is controversial – with allegations that the practice can be used as a cover for traditional hunting.

The National Trust stopped issuing licences for trail hunts on its land in 2021.

'Violence is not tolerated and as a Force, we will always pursue criminal action against any offender.'

Giving evidence during the trial, Mr Walters told how he was attacked while monitoring the hunt on the last day of the hunting season.

He said: 'I was parked up on the left hand side of the road sat in the driver's seat, listening to the radio.

'A car pulled up in front of us with a masked man. Mr Birney got out of the car.

'He walked around to the driver's door. He knocked on the window and said "knock, knock". He then knocked my wing mirror back.

'I wound the window down to move it back. He snatched my sunglasses off my head and made contact with my head.

'Then he punched me twice in my jaw, here, (pointing to the right hand side of his face). I felt a sharp pain and the area swelled up 24 hours afterwards.'

A spokesperson for the North London Hunt Saboteurs said after the case: 'We have this to say to Mr Birney; despite your lenient sentence today, we have won.

'We are happy to put you on our mantlepiece next to the other useful idiots we have secured convictions against.

'Our member would like to thank our supporters and other saboteur groups we work with.

'We will never be intimidated away from protecting defenceless animals by the likes of Marc Birney.'

The Pytchley with Woodland Hunt traces its origins back to the 1700s and is based in the village of Brixworth.