The first professional huntsman in the country to be

prosecuted by police for allegedly killing a fox had his case

adjourned today so his legal team can view evidence filmed by

hunt monitors.

Julian Barnfield, 44, of the Heythrop Hunt, which covers

Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire, was due in court today to

answer three charges of hunting a wild mammal with dogs.

But Cheltenham magistrates agreed to put the plea hearing

back to August 4 after Barnfield's solicitors asked the

prosecution to serve them with DVD footage.

The case is understood to be based largely on filmed

evidence gathered by anti-hunt groups in Gloucestershire.

Conservative leader David Cameron has supporters in the

Heythrop, which is close to his Witney constituency, and has

ridden with them in the past.

Barnfield, whose lives at the kennels in Chipping Norton,

Oxfordshire, is charged with three counts of hunting a wild

mammal with dogs.

The allegations brought under the Hunting Act 2004 relate to

November 17 2007 in Cold Aston, Cheltenham, January 23 this

year in Adlestrop, Moreton-in-Marsh, and February 7 in

Barrington, Gloucestershire.

Barnfield was not required to attend the hearing today.

Earlier this year the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS)

confirmed the case was the first brought by the state for

hunting foxes, although the Devon and Somerset Staghounds are

being prosecuted by police in connection with stag hunting.

That case is currently the subject of a judicial review.

Previous prosecutions have been brought at private expense

by organisations like LACS and the International Fund for

Animal Welfare (IFAW).

The Countryside Alliance said it would be giving Barnfield

its 'full support' throughout the case.

A description of his job, published on The Heythrop Hunt's

website reads: “It is Julian alone who hunts hounds – his job

on a hunting day is to control, assist or monitor the pack.

“Not only can he name each hound but, if given the excuse,

will regale the enquirer with details of each hound's breeding,

going back numerous generations. There is much else that Julian

does that remains unseen by most followers.”

Heythrop was formed in 1835, and its followers are said to

have canvassed for Mr Cameron's election as an MP in 2001.