A 82-year-old aristocrat who was punched in the head by a “bully” hunt saboteur is “delighted” that she has been convicted guilty of assault and fined nearly £1,000
The wealthy landowner Richard de Pelet was left disoriented and bleeding from an open wound after Alexandra Dennis struck him with a video camera during a meeting in the countryside of north Dorset on 18 December 2021.
In a video of the attack, revealed exclusively by MailOnline, Dennis must be prevented from attacking Mr. de Pelet again as she is heard hurling insults at the visibly scared senior, who exclaims in surprise, “you hit me!” Dennis is also heard threatening to kill Mr. de Pelet.
Following a trial at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court, Dennis was found guilty of assault by beating and fined £959, of which £100 would go to Mr. de Pelet as compensation.
On December 18, 2021, wealthy landowner Richard de Pelet (shown outside court) was left disoriented and bleeding from an open wound after Alexandra Dennis struck him with a video camera during a meeting in the north Dorset countryside.
Following a trial at Weymouth Magistrates’ Court, Dennis was found guilty of assault by beating and fined £959, of which £100 would go to Mr. de Pelet as compensation.
The incident left Mr. de Pelet with a hurting head for days, the court heard.
He was the former chairman of the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale hunt for more than four decades, and his annual farmer’s drinks party attracted up to 450 guests to his and his wife Isabel’s vast Inwood House estate.
Over the years, he has entertained many members of British high society and has been photographed rubbing shoulders with former prime minister Boris Johnson.
His wife Isabel is a supporter of the arts, and they are thought to have been close to Sir Richard Sutton, the millionaire who was fatally killed by his wife’s son Thomas Schreiber on their Dorset estate.
Isabel was the godmother of Thomas.
Mr. de Pelet was praised as a “hunt hero” by the countryside bible Horse & Hound in 2017 when he stated, “I enjoy riding, although I no longer jump.
I enjoy the drama, the social aspect, and the parties that accompany it. I’m doing all I can, attempting to be a general or field marshal and taking care of the people so that they will take care of the remainder of the hunt.
‘I owe everything to hunting since my father would not have inherited Inwood if he had not been interested in hunting. He was an excellent trustee who carried on the hunting tradition started by [prior owner] Miss Guest, and I have attempted to do the same.’
The attack on Mr. de Pelet, which occurred almost exactly a year ago, was reportedly one of several confrontations between members of the hunt, which Mr. de Pelet had been supporting on foot, and saboteurs.
In the woods of Holnest, close to Sturminster Newton, both parties had yelled at and pushed one another.
The court heard that Mr. de Pelet arrived on the scene after hearing yelling in the forest.
During the skirmish between the parties, one of the saboteurs’ body cameras was knocked to the ground.
On film, the elderly, attired in beige corduroy pants and a tweed jacket, can be heard asking, “Whose is this?” after picking up the recording device.
The video then shows Dennis whirling around and running at Mr. de Pelet.
Prosecutor Olivia McGonigle told Weymouth Magistrates’ Court, “The video clearly shows her grabbing the camera, and rather than fleeing, she smacks him on the back of the head, forcing him to fall to the ground.”
After the camera was taken away from the elderly gentleman, there was no justification for self-defense.
Dennis, a resident of Sturminster Newton, contested an assault accusation on the grounds that she had acted in self-defense.
Mr. McGonigle stated that Mr. de Pelet did not frighten the defendant, who lashed out in fury.
She stated, “Every huntsman was behind the gate, and only Mr. de Pelet was in the vicinity at the time.”
“The issue is whether the use of force was reasonable or necessary, and according to the Crown, Mr. de Pelet posed no threat to anyone.
‘He was not attempting to take the evidence on the camera; he only wanted to know who owned it.
In the camera clip, he can be heard asking, “Whose is this? Is this yours?”
18 December 2021, wealthy landowner Richard de Pelet (pictured) was left disoriented and bleeding from an open wound after Alexandra Dennis struck him with a video camera during a meeting in the countryside of north Dorset.
Alexandra Dennis pounced at the old man as he sought to get something from the ground behind her, then smacked him with a video camera to the head.
The video depicts the moment Richard de Pelet, age 82, was assaulted by a hunt saboteur convicted of assault by beating.
Miss Dennis was angry, as evidenced by her separation from the defendant on the ground.
Kenneth Sharpe, the defense attorney, asserted that his client and other female saboteurs were abused that day.
He stated, ‘It must have had a profound effect on Miss Dennis to have had guys on horses wielding whips hovering over her earlier that day.
Miss Dennis reacted in less than a second as she turned and saw Mr. de Pelet wrestling with her friend.
She reacted instinctively and did not have time to assess how much force she used in that instant.
Miss Dennis really believed her buddy was in danger and acted accordingly, thus I do not consider her actions were unjustified.
When she observed her companion attempting to seize the camera, Dennis testified in court that she feared the situation was “ready to erupt again.”
She stated, “I feared he was going to whack her with it the next second.”
I believed the remainder of the hunt would run in and attack us once more.
“Everything transpired in an instant, and I didn’t even realize I was holding the camera.”
Justice Dominic Britton, the presiding magistrate who found her guilty, stated that the hostility she displayed after stealing the camera was excessive.
He stated, “Having examined the video footage and listened to the oral testimony, we feel the seizure of the camera was a legitimate use of force given what had already transpired on that day.
“However, she then struck Mr. de Pelet, which was completely disproportionate and uncalled for.” Therefore, we find you guilty of assault.
After the event, Mr. de Pelet expressed his satisfaction with the outcome.
He stated, “The wound on the back of my head was really painful.
“Farmers agree to let us use their land, but then these folks come without permission and harass us.” ‘They never leave when instructed.’
His family stated that it was utterly unacceptable to strike a senior citizen and that this was the best possible outcome.
Polly Portwin, a spokesperson for the Countryside Alliance, stated, “Although they are few in number, hunt saboteurs are habitually confrontational and frequently violent toward many members of the rural community.”
“It cannot be acceptable that these bullies are free to terrorize law-abiding rural citizens with their efforts.”
Exclusive video footage obtained by MailOnline saw Dennis attacking the elderly victim as astonished members of the public attempted to get her away from him.
For the safety of the hunting community and the general public, we urge law enforcement across the countryside to take their action extremely seriously.
Yesterday, a representative for the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt told MailOnline that the organization is “relieved that justice has been served” on behalf of the victim.
The spokeswoman stated, “This horrifying occurrence underscores the horrific abuse members of our community endure at the hands of hunt saboteurs.”
Although he has physically recovered, the elderly victim remains emotionally scarred by Alexandra Dennis’ aggressive conduct.
The spokesman noted that trail hunting remains a vital social activity for many, particularly older rural residents.
The spokesperson noted, “[Trail hunting] can be one of the few routes of engagement in more remote sections of the countryside.”
‘Regrettably, there are a few individuals who do not get this and go out of their way to intimidate and assault innocent people. We would like to thank the police and the public defender for their assistance in bringing Dennis to justice.
Trail hunting was created in response to the 2004 Hunting Act in an effort to recreate as closely as possible the illegal sport of fox hunting.
According to the guidelines, horseback riders with dogs may legitimately follow smell trails instead of pursuing a live animal.
However, there are no legal implications if hounds pick up the scent of a fox and pursue it as a result of the scent trail.
The League Against Cruel Sports asserts that trail hunting is a cover for illegal hunting, designed to fool authorities and make prosecution of illegal hunters extremely challenging.
The 2004 Hunting Act prohibited fox hunting with hounds, however violations have been reported since then.
Although animals are not actively pursued, wounded, or killed during trail hunting, many animal rights advocates publicly condemn the practice.
The Countryside Alliance, a rural advocacy group, thinks that Sunday’s incident underscores the importance of police taking threats made by hunt saboteur groups’seriously.’
The man slumped to the ground while Dennis could be heard yelling insults at him. The man, disoriented and plainly terrified, adds, “you hit me.”
Polly Portwin, who manages the organization’s Campaign for Hunting, remarked, “Although few in number, hunt saboteurs are habitually confrontational and frequently violent toward many members of the rural community.”
“Hunt workers, who work tirelessly to preserve and defend the wellbeing of the animals in their care, are frequently falsely accused by sabotage organizations, as was reported in Wiltshire over the weekend.
“It cannot be acceptable that these bullies are free to terrorize law-abiding rural citizens with their efforts.”
She said, “We urge police throughout the countryside to take their activities extremely seriously, for the safety of the hunting community as well as the general public.”
After a trial at Weymouth Magistrates Court, Dennis was found guilty and fined £959 for assault by beating. The victim claims that he is still “emotionally wounded” by her “violent conduct.”
The Countryside Alliance, a rural advocacy group, thinks that Sunday’s incident underscores the importance of authorities taking threats made by hunt saboteur groups’seriously’
Ms. Portwin remarked that two weeks previously, police urged another hunt to relocate its operations due to a “hate campaign against local clergy by hunt saboteurs.”
The saboteurs of the hunt had posted information about the group’s Christmas service at St. George’s Church in Clun. In addition, they distributed the email address of Reverend Caroline Harrison and requested that activists contact her to lodge complaints.
Animal rights groups and activists from around the world, including Canada and New Zealand, contacted the hunt.
Ms. Portwin noted that the service still occurred last weekend despite the threats.
Since then, a representative for the United Pack has criticized the protesters, stating, “We had no doubt that our carol service would take place this year.”
‘It is an important element of the holiday calendar for many locals, regardless of whether or not they participate in hunting.
We would never give in to internet bullies’ threats, but we recognize how unpleasant it may be for those who are victimized.
Last weekend’s event, according to the United Pack, was “without a doubt the best supported service” the organization has ever provided.
Officials report that attendance was “above average” and that the group had more newcomers than in prior years, “which just reinforces the power of rural community spirit and the significance of this time of year.”
The spokesperson continued, ‘The sermon was beautifully constructed, and the roughly 100 congregants all agreed that the rural community in the Welsh Marches was much better off as a result of the joyful and heartfelt service.’