In 2020, 32-year-old Oliver Francis Thompson of Faringdon, an employee of the Old Berkshire Hunt Kennels, pleaded guilty to two animal welfare offence charges. These incidents involved the deliberate provocation of his pet dog, Nellie, a Patterdale Terrier, to intimidate a trapped fox.
Footage captured in July 2020 showed disturbing clips of Thompson encouraging Nellie to bark menacingly at a caged juvenile fox. The video depicts Thompson bringing his dog dangerously close to the trapped animal, escalating the situation to distressing levels for the fox.
Further shocking actions were revealed in the footage, where Thompson removed the fox from its enclosure and forced it towards the barking terrier no fewer than nineteen times. Holding the young fox by its scruff, he subjected it to a horrifying ordeal marked by intense fear and anxiety.
In another incident, recorded on Christmas Eve of the same year, Thompson was part of a group, including terriermen and a minor. The group was seen digging a fox from its burrow before Thompson hurled the live fox into a pack of hounds.
During the festive season, major hunts like the *Old Berkshire Hunt* near Wantage, as well as the Heythrop Hunt in Chipping Norton, and the North Cotswold and Cotswold Hunts, traditionally plan over 100 hunting events across England.
Emma Judd, Head of Campaigns and Communications at the League Against Cruel Sports, described Thompson’s actions as showcasing “some of the worst animal cruelty” the organization has encountered. According to Judd, such offenses highlight the continuation of illegal fox hunting almost two decades after the activity was banned. She advocated for tougher penalties, including custodial sentences, for those involved in these acts of cruelty. Judd also pointed out that traditional Boxing Day hunts often mask a reality filled with violence and suffering for wildlife.
The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) expressed its alarm over Thompson’s actions as evidence of covert illegal hunting practices disguised as ‘legal’ trail hunting. The RSPCA argued for legislative changes to strengthen enforcement, including the prohibition of trail hunting and the introduction of stricter penalties for violations of the Hunting Act of 2004.
During these events, Thompson was employed by the Avon Vale Hunt in Wiltshire. The incidents were traced back to the Melksham region in 2020, leading to Thompson’s sentencing on December 11th at Swindon Magistrates’ Court. He received a 20-week prison sentence, suspended for two years, alongside a requirement to complete 300 hours of unpaid work and pay £2,500 in legal fines. Nellie, his dog, has since been placed in the care of the RSPCA.
In October 2023, it was revealed that an accomplice of Thompson’s, Stuart Radbourne, also faced legal repercussions for his involvement in the incidents. Radbourne received a suspended prison sentence after being convicted for his part in the shocking events.
For those concerned with animal welfare or seeking to engage in discussions surrounding animal rights and local wildlife, you can find more relevant local organizations and resources in Wantage through our **[directory of clubs and societies](https://wantage.com/directory/categories/clubs-and-societies/)**.
