Fox hunter cleared of harm charge

A night hunter who shot a wildlife expert believing his night-vision binoculars were fox eyes has been cleared of assault.

Anthony Burns, 52, of Prestwood, Bucks, shot Trevor Lawson in the chest with a hunting bullet designed to disintegrate inside the body of an animal.

Mr Lawson, 37, was looking for barn owls on farmland near Hyde Heath, Bucks, when he was shot.

Jurors unanimously cleared Mr Burns of causing grievous bodily harm.

Although there was no suggestion Mr Burns had shot journalist Mr Lawson deliberately, the prosecution said he had acted recklessly.

Screaming in agony

Mr Burns said he had been "100% sure" that he had been shooting a fox.

The court heard Mr Lawson, who lost a lung and spent two days in intensive care, was pursuing a civil action for damages against Mr Burns.

Mr Burns had 20 years of shooting experience, including "lamping" - a form of night hunting using a red-filtered light which is difficult for the fox to see - without incident.

With the farmer's permission Mr Burns and two friends hunted and shot foxes to protect pheasants reared on the farm.

After Mr Burns pulled the trigger on what he believed to be a fox, he heard Mr Lawson screaming in agony.

He found him lying on the ground beside a track while one of his companions called an ambulance.

"I was just so shocked that I made this mistake," he said.