Master of hunt cleared of assault

A hunt master has been cleared of assaulting a saboteur despite striking here with his riding crop.

Andrew Cass, joint master of the High Peak Hunt, based near Buxton, Derbys, said he struck out when Dawn Varley grabbed his horse's reins.

Miss Varley, from Manchester, suffered a 6cm wound in the incident.

The jury accepted Mr Cass's claim he feared the situation was "becoming serious" and there was a risk he and Miss Varley could be injured.

'Grabbed reins'

Derby Crown Court heard how Miss Varley, from Manchester, and a fellow saboteur lay in wait for the hunt before confronting the horsemen as they neared.

A jury was shown a video of Mr Cass apparently bringing down his crop and striking Miss Varley after she grabbed his horse's reins.

Giving evidence, Mr Cass conceded that the footage - taken by another saboteur - made it "fairly obvious" that he had hit his alleged victim.

But the 51-year-old, from Unthank Lane, Holmesfield, South Yorks, denied assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

Mr Cass said he struck out when he feared they were both at risk from his mount.