A member of a hunt has been convicted of assaulting a saboteur after spraying a liquid in his face.

Julie Hadlow, who is a member of the Ashford Valley Tickham Hunt, appeared at Maidstone Magistrates' Court on Tuesday after being charged with assault during a hunt on December 31, last year.

The 51-year-old of Highsted Valley, Rodmersham, denied the charges in June before going on trial this week.

WATCH: Hunt saboteur squirted in the face. Video: West Kent Hunt Sabs

Hadlow was given a conditional discharge for 12 months, meaning she will not be punished as long as she does not commit another offence in the time period.

She was ordered to pay court costs of £620 and a £20 victim surcharge.

West Kent Hunt Sabs arrived at the hunt at Blackett's Farm in Tonge when Hadlow squirted a bottle of "fox juice" at one of the group, having said it was fox urine.

In court it was said fox juice is made by boiling the body of a fox for at least 24 hours so the pores open to release the scent that forms the mixture.

"This is a big result for us and for the wildlife of Kent..." West Kent Hunt Sabs

After the trial the group said: "This is a big result for us and for the wildlife of Kent as this is the first conviction any hunt has had to face in the county.

"With the upcoming hunting season starting in weeks we will not rest in continuing to protect our wildlife.

"No matter what the hunters throw at us, whether it's fox juice, shooting down our drone or violence we will not be deterred in the pursuit of justice for our wildlife."

In February, anti-hunt saboteurs claimed a huntsman shot down their drone while it was filming a hunt.

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