John Charles Kneale (58) of Westminster Drive, Bromborough, Wirral (terrier man for the Cheshire Foxhounds) and Peter Edge (28) of Hilbre Bank, Alpraham, Tarporley, Cheshire both walked free from Northwich magistrates on 31/10/97 after magistrates decided there was no case to answer over allegations of badger digging. Both were charged with disturbing a badger sett and causing a dog to enter a badger sett at High Billinge near Tarporley after the Cheshire Foxhounds had passed over the land earlier the same day in February 1997. The farmer who owned the land said “I was approached by Kneale, he said a fox had run to ground during the hunt and would it be all right to dig it out. I gave him permission. I didn’t know they were going near where the badger sett.” They were then seen digging at the sett by forest workers, who then rang a badger protection group to report them. [Full Story]