TWO men are set to stand trial accused of taking part in an illegal hunt.
Rhys Matcham and Matthew Ramsden have both denied hunting with dogs in Brokenborough, near Malmesbury, on September 13 last year.
Ramsden is joint-master and huntsman at the Beaufort Hunt and Matchan is a whipper-in.
It is claimed the pair were involved in the hunting of a wild mammal with a dog, and that hunting was not exempted by the Hunting Act.
The pair, aged 30 and 35 respectively, entered not guilty pleas when appearing at Swindon Magistrates’ Court last Wednesday (May 11).
The case was adjourned for a later date, which will be set at a case management hearing which neither defendant will need to attend, on May 25.
Both Ramsden, of High Street in Badminton, and Matcham, of Kennel Drive were released on unconditional bail.
The Beaufort Hunt is one of the oldest fox hunting packs in England.
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