MAGISTRATES have fined a 48-year-old man for illegally hunting a wild animal with dogs.

Wayne Gregory, of Huish Champflower, pleaded guilty under the Hunting Act 2004 during a court hearing in Taunton on Monday (April 20).

The case came after a six-month police investigation into an incident in which dogs were not called off from hunting a fox during a Vale of Taunton and Banwell Harriers hunt meet near Bridgwater last November.

Somerset Hunt Saboteurs gave drone footage of the meet to police, who eventually charged three men with offences under the Act.

Gregory was fined £250 and was ordered to pay £185 in costs.

Cases against the two men charged with him, Ross Cordery, aged 45, from Highbridge, and James Parish, aged 31 from Uffculme, were discontinued.