A DORSET man has been fined £6,000 after being found guilty of a hunting offence.

On October 18 Mark Pearson, of Child Okeford near Blandford, was found guilty of hunting a wild mammal with dog, an offence under the Hunting Act 2004, following a trial at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court.

As well as being fined £6,000, the 62-year-old was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £190 and costs of £620.

The charge related to an incident in the Bere Regis area on November 13 last year, when Pearson was acting as the huntsman and master for the day for the South Dorset Hunt.

Dorset Police received reports from members of the public monitoring the hunt that two foxes had been killed by hounds.

Officers attended on the day and subsequently obtained footage from the hunt monitors, which was reviewed as part of a detailed investigation.

The evidence showed Pearson appeared to be encouraging the hounds and did not have full control of them before they killed one of the foxes.

Sergeant Lee Turner, of Dorset Police’s Rural Crime Team, said: “We are fully committed to investigating all reports of illegal hunting and we have dedicated wildlife crime officers who receive specific training and guidance to assist in investigating these matters.

“Proving offences in these cases can often be challenging and I would like to thank all those who assisted our investigation by providing clear evidence to demonstrate Mark Pearson’s offending.

“I would particularly like to thank those witnesses who gave evidence at court.

“We have strengthened our numbers in our Rural Crime Team and this will assist us as we continue to address the concerns of our rural communities and take positive action in response to any offences that have been committed.”

Anyone wishing to report a breach of the Hunting Act should contact Dorset Police via www.dorset.police.uk/contact, or by calling 101. Alternatively, people can contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.