Hunt Saboteur convicted after spitting in farmer's face during popular Boxing Day hunt meet

A hunt saboteur who spat in a woman's face on Boxing Day during a popular festive hunt meet in Stilton, Cambridgeshire has been convicted of assault by beating.

Teresa Underwood was arrested at the Fitzwilliam Hunt's Boxing Day meet in Stilton on December 26 last year after being seen spitting in the face of the farmer, Caroline Hall.

A video of the incident shows Underwood, 46, scream at passing riders: "I wonder which one might fall off and break their neck? I'll p*** on their grave."

She then lunges at Ms Hall and is heard hawking, before she is grabbed by police and carried away to be arrested.

ICYMI

Hunt saboteur Teresa Underwood pleaded guilty to assault by beating last week and received a 12 month conditional discharge after spitting in a farmer's face. She has been ordered to pay compensation, court costs and an additional surcharge.

🎥 Warning, offensive language pic.twitter.com/G5x6p8cuNv

— Countryside Alliance Press Office (@CApressoffice) February 5, 2023

Underwood pleaded guilty to assault by beating at Peterborough Magistrates' Court on January 25^th. She was sentenced to a 12-month conditional discharge and ordered to pay compensation, court costs and an additional surcharge.

Ms Hall said she was out "enjoying a wonderful day" at the 250-year-old gathering on Stilton High Street, when Underwood launched her foul-mouthed attack.

The 58-year-old, who is a volunteer puppy walker for the Fitzwilliam hunt, said she was near a group of children when the incident occurred.

The youngsters were huddled around a group of playful hounds when Underwood stormed over and started shouting at them, Ms Hall alleged.

Underwood reportedly told the youngsters that the hunt did not care for the dogs and left them 'visibly terrified' by her 'hostile and feral-like behaviour'.

Ms Hall said she intervened and told the kids that the dogs were "considered part of hunt family." She also explained that they were both well-cared for and loved.

Underwood is said to have become 'increasingly enraged' by the encounter and reportedly yelled at nearby riders: 'I hope you fall off your horses and break your neck.'

The animal rights activist then screamed and spat on Ms Hall. Police officers immediately grabbed Underwood and took her over to the pavement where she was subsequently handcuffed and arrested.

Ms Hall said: " Being spat on felt incredibly degrading, but my main concern was for the welfare of the young children who didn't understand who this woman was and why she was screaming at them so aggressively.

"I was worried the woman could have had a knife and cause me or others further harm. Thankfully the police did step in and handled the appalling incident quickly enough."

While Ms Hall said she was 'pleased' that Underwood has been convicted, she added: "I do worry about the increasingly violent actions of animal-rights activists towards other rural people."

Polly Portwin, Director of Hunting at the Countryside Alliance, branded the attack as "appalling" and said it serves as a reminder that authorities "must take the threat of violence by hunt saboteurs incredibly seriously and crack down on their activity."

"It cannot ever be right that activists, with a malicious agenda intent on causing trouble, target good, law abiding people like this", Ms Portwin said.

"While small in numbers, saboteurs are a serious threat to the wellbeing and livelihood of many rural people".

Tens of thousands of people gathered for Boxing Day hunt meets which took place for the first time in two years without the restrictions that were imposed due to the pandemic.

The Countryside Alliance (CA) said more than 200 packs of hounds – including foxhounds, beagles, harriers, basset hounds, draghounds and bloodhounds – are estimated to have been part of Boxing Day meets held outside pubs, in town centres and on other land suitable for large crowds of people.

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