Two Kent hunt saboteurs, Harry Blackhurst and Robert Bridger, have been charged with harassment. The pair appeared before Margate Magistrates' Court in mid-August and their trial is due to begin on 30 April 2025.
Blackhurst, who is a senior recruitment manager at global logistics platform Flexport, is the spokesperson of West Kent Hunt Sabs. He has previously told the Daily Mail that he and fellow sabs “will not be deterred in the pursuit of justice for our wildlife”. It seems that this zealous pursuit may now have led him to charges of harassment.
In footage of a separate incident on 28 December 2023, Blackhurst has been filmed allegedly using very offensive language, apparently shouting to a hunt member that they were a “f***ing c**t”. Sources report that children were present.
Furthermore, in 2019 the East Sussex and Romney Marsh Hunt accused Blackhurst of using “methods of distraction” while sabbing, including blowing horns to distract the hounds, which they said may have caused the hounds to become “confused and disoriented” and led to the death of a fox. A spokesman for the hunt said, “The saboteurs’ actions are incredibly dangerous and we implore them not to interfere with our hounds and legal activities”.
A Facebook account that is believed to belong to Robert Bridger shows a photograph of a man thought to be Bridger with a “Be kind to every kind" filter. This pledge of kindness is somewhat at odds with his charge of harassment.
The Kent pair are due to appear at Margate Magistrates’ Court on 30 April 2025.
Blackhurst (third from left) and individual believed to be Bridger (far left)