A huntswoman is accused of using her mobile phone to assault a female saboteur before knocking her over with her horse, a court heard. Sophie Tuffin, 40, allegedly smashed the device into the face of Alexandra Dennis during an altercation over a right of way on December 10, 2024, at Hile Farm in Dorset.
Tuffin, who was hosting the Blackmore and Sparkford Vale Hunt on her family's estate, reportedly rode up to Ms. Dennis and other hunt saboteurs in a neighboring farmer's field. The court heard that Tuffin leaned over her horse to show Ms. Dennis a map on her mobile phone, indicating there was no public access. Ms. Dennis stated that Tuffin then hit her in the face with the phone, causing bruising. Subsequently, Tuffin's 750kg horse is said to have made contact with Ms. Dennis, knocking her to the ground. Ms. Dennis suffered bruising to her toes and lower leg, according to the court.
Ms. Dennis, a member of North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs, a group that monitors hunts to ensure compliance with trail hunting regulations, said she was on a public footpath when the incident occurred. She presented her own phone's OS map and GPS to demonstrate her location. She told the court, "She smashed me in the face with her mobile phone, you can hear it."
However, Tuffin denies hitting Ms. Dennis with her phone or her horse. Her defense attorney claimed Ms. Dennis was present to provoke hunt members. Tuffin pleaded not guilty to a charge of assault by beating at Weymouth Magistrates' Court. Her lawyer suggested that Ms. Dennis might have fallen on her own accord and fabricated the assault claim.
During the trial, Detective Constable Steve Allen testified that based on the longitude and latitude from Ms. Dennis' body-worn camera, he believed she was on a public footpath. When questioned by police, Tuffin reportedly stated that she could not reach Ms. Dennis' face from her horse and that Ms. Dennis must have fallen over herself. She also stated they had landowner permission for the hunt. Tuffin told the court she had not seen Ms. Dennis fall. The trial was adjourned and is scheduled to resume on September 21.