A hunt master found guilty of being responsible for at least one "dangerously out of control" hound that killed a pet cat is to appeal against his sentence after being found guilty at a trial last year.

Truro Crown Court has confirmed that John Lanyon Sampson, of St Buryan near Penzance, has lodged an appeal after being found guilty in a trial at Truro Magistrates' Court on December 10 last year.

Sampson pleaded not guilty to a charge that on March 6, 2020, at Madron, without lawful excuse, he destroyed Mini the cat belonging to Carly Jose, intending to destroy or being reckless as to whether property would be destroyed or damaged. This was dismissed by the magistrates after hearing the evidence on the criminal damage charge. 

However, he also pleaded not guilty to a charge that he was in charge of a dangerous animal, one or more of at least six hunting hounds, which were dangerously out of control on the same day and place. The incident was captured on video.

Magistrates found him guilty, under the Dangerous Dogs Act. The chair of the bench said their decision was based solely on the death of the cat, not for any other reason. 

The prosecution said that the incident took place in the Trafalgar Fields estate in Madron.

Returning the guilty verdict based on the death of the cat, the magistrates fined Sampson £480 and ordered him to pay Ms Jose £350 in compensation.

He was also ordered to pay prosecution costs of £775 and a £48 surcharge to fund victim surcharge.

The appeal will now be heard before a judge at Truro Crown Court at a later date in the year.

It said it can "confirm an appeal has been lodged by Mr Sampson to this Court".

You can read the original court case here