Bizarre crime story in UK

Was a bit difficult to think of an appropriate title for this one which would pithily describe the gist of this story, so I went with the above.

Hunt led by Princess Diana's sister sued after one of its staff assaulted a legal observer

I think you need to read the whole thing for full effect, but here are some of the more important bits:

Quote:

Former police officer Darryl Cunnington, 60, suffered a fractured vertebra after being pushed down a steep slope while monitoring the activities of the Belvoir Hunt. The hunt’s kennel man, George Grant, 58, and his 26-year-old son Thomas were both sentenced to 13-months in prison, suspended for two years, and ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work after pleading guilty to assault causing grievous bodily harm, actual bodily harm, theft, and criminal damage to property.

(The sentence being suspended means that they likely won't actually spend any time in prison.)
But here's the thing, this was not just a matter of these men losing their temper, it was planned.

Quote:

Mr Cunnington and Mr Swaine were attacked after four men in balaclavas were called by Grant and his son during a hunt on March 12, 2016. The pair were observing the hunt from a bridleway near Strathern, in Leicestershire, to ensure it was taking place in a lawful manner. Leicester Crown Court heard in June 2018 that during a confrontation with Mr Cunnington and Mr Swain, Grant told his son: “Go and get the boys and come back”. His son returned a short time later with four “masked men” wearing dark clothes, their faces covered by balaclavas. In the ensuing melee Mr Cunnington was pushed off a ledge and down a 14ft slope and repeatedly kicked as he lay on the ground. Mr Swain was pushed down a 6ft slope. His camera was stolen and the assailants also tried to steal Mr Cunnington’s camera.

In other words, they had four "boys" with masks to conceal their identities standing by to attack these observers. That's not a spur-of-the-moment thing. Furthermore, it is clear that Mr Grant and his son know the identities of these assailants. Yet they refuse to name them. And yet the leniency.

Quote:

A writ now lodged with the High Court claims Grant and his son, a volunteer with the hunt, refused to name the four masked men, who have never been traced.

Anyway, the Lady Sarah McCorquodale vouched for her man, but at the same time denies that she or the hunt had anything to do with the planning of this assault.

via International Skeptics Forum https://ift.tt/2y118e2