WATCH: Drone footage shows kennel huntsman shaking hands with other party members as dogs kill hare in Northamptonshire

The footage, shot by a member of the public and released by Northamptonshire Police, shows Philip Kennedy, of West Boycott Pavilion, Stowe, shaking hands with other members of the party, as the dogs attacked the wild animal.

The incident happened on November 13 last year on land belonging to Crockwell Farm in Eydon.

Police say the Stowe Beagles’ hounds chased a European brown hare across the open field towards a far fence, where the defenceless mammal was attacked and killed.

A Northamptonshire Police spokeswoman said: “After the kill, Kennedy was seen standing next to the pack of hounds and shaking hands with other members of the party instead of retrieving the hare from the beagles which continued to attack the dead mammal.”

Kennedy pleaded guilty to one count of hunting a wild mammal with dogs. He appeared at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on June 4, and was fined £258, ordered to pay £585 court costs and £103 victim surcharge.

PC Chloe Gillies, of Northamptonshire Police Rural Crime Team, who led the investigation, said: “As the kennel huntsman of Stowe Beagles, Kennedy knew that allowing his dogs to chase and kill a hare was cruel and illegal.

“Even after the hare was dead, Kennedy and the rest of the group, stood and shook hands in a congratulatory manner instead of stepping in to stop the dogs from continuing to attack the hare.”

Report suspicious activity and non-emergency crime by calling 101 or going online at www.northants.police.uk/RO. In an emergency, always call 999.