Huntsman not guilty after dead fox found at school

A hunt master has been found not guilty of hunting a wild mammal with dogs after a fox was allegedly killed on a school's grounds.

Roger James Brown, 56, from The Grafton Hunt, was also found not guilty of being the owner/person in charge of a dog dangerously out of control - no injury, at Milton Keynes Magistrates' Court on Wednesday.

Thames Valley Police began an investigation in November 2024 after it received a report that a fox was found dead in the grounds of Stowe School in Buckinghamshire.

Mr Brown had previously pleaded not guilty to the offences at a hearing on 24 June.

Witnesses had described seeing a fox being chased across a sports field at Stowe School while pupils were in lessons.

A spokesperson for Thames Valley Police said at the time: "Our Buckingham neighbourhood [team] along with the rural crime task force team have received a report whereby a fox was found dead in the grounds of Stowe School."

They added that it was "not believed to have involved the school, other than having come onto their grounds".

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