On September 18th 1993, Stephen Maxwell, a man with convictions for offences involving badgers, was seen with terrierman out with the Cheshire Forest Foxhounds. His history of offences was drawn to the attention of several hunt members who chose to take no action.

On 23rd September, Maxwell was due to appear in court in Mold on further badger charges. He failed to turn up, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.

On Friday 24th September, instead of attending the second day of the court hearing, Maxwell again went out with the Cheshire Forest Foxhounds - in the company of Mark Roberts, Secretary of the Fell and Moorland Working Terrier Club. After complaints of abuse and attacks on demonstrators, the police were called and eventually arrested Maxwell.

In January 1994, Maxwell was finally imprisoned for nine months for 'attempting to kill, injure or take a badger', part of the time to be served resulting from a previous 'suspended sentence' for an offence committed in Shropshire in 1991.

Published in Wildlife Guardian, Issue 27, Winter 1994