Countryside campaigner Otis Ferry walked free from court today, claiming he only got involved in a skirmish with hunt monitors because of the recent theft of his puppy by animal rights campaigners.

Ferry, 26, the son of Roxy Music singer Bryan Ferry, was given a one-year conditional discharge for causing "fear, stress and upset" to a woman who tried to film him riding with a hunt.

Ferry was released with a £350 fine and £100 costs by a judge at Gloucester Crown Court, as he had already served four months on remand.

His defence barrister, George Cox QC, revealed that two weeks before the incident near Stow-on-the-Wold, Gloucestershire, Ferry's Jack Russell, named Tiny, had been taken by anti-hunting protesters.

Mr Cox blamed the "distressing" theft of Tiny for the fact that Ferry had become involved in a "tug of war" for his victim's car keys, leaving her bruised.

The incident, in November 2007, began after Ferry had ridden to the aid of fellow hunt supporter John Deutsch whose Subaru was being held up as he was trying to get help for a sick horse.

Ferry, joint master of the South Shropshire Hunt, pleaded not guilty to robbing the monitors, Helen Ghalmi and Susan Grima, of a Samsung camcorder, a Navman sat nav, and a set of keys.

He also denied charges of affray and assault, relating to the same incident on November 21, 2007, when he was a guest of the Heythrop Hunt, which covers Oxfordshire and Gloucestershire.

But the pleas were accepted by the crown after Ferry, of Eaton Mascott, Shropshire, admitted a public order offence.

Prosecutor Kerry Barker told the court that the two women recognised Ferry riding on that afternoon and tried to film him.

At that stage a horse box driven by Deutsch passed their Peugeot and blocked them in.

The driver then got out and shouted abuse at them before grabbing the top of the car window, causing it to smash, Mr Barker said. The pair were "very frightened" by what was taking place, the court heard.

Seeing Deutsch, 55, involved in a scene, a man identified as Ferry rode over. He tried to grab the camera and sat nav system, finally becoming involved in a "tug of war" for the car keys, which he won.

After the struggle, Ms Ghalmi suffered "slight bruising" to her upper right arm, Mr Barker said.

The court heard that the Heythrop Hunt was unique in that it wears green jackets, while visitor Mr Ferry was wearing red.

Deutsch – who was also fined £350 with £100 costs after admitting affray – said he was angry at being blocked in because he was driving an injured horse away for treatment.

Mr Cox, speaking in mitigation, said: "Mr Ferry is somewhat in the public eye and a well-known supporter of hunting. He is therefore often the subject to attention from those who disagree with hunting on principle.

"Two weeks before the incident his dog had been stolen and reported to the police as stolen. It was subsequently recovered, clearly having been taken by people wished to make a political point.

"At the time he was joining the Heythrop Hunt, his dog had just been stolen, he believed, as it turned out correctly, by people who wished to visit their disapproval on him.

"His house is regularly watched. He is sometimes followed and has been the object of campaigns – from time to time sustained – of intrusive attention from those who disagree with the practice and tradition of hunting.

"So when he saw in the road that day Mr Deutsch apparently in some difficulty his spontaneous reaction – which he concedes amounted to misplaced loyalty to a fellow hunt supporter – was to become involved. He bitterly regrets any involvement in that incident."

Addressing Judge Martin Picton, he continued: "The theft of his dog had just occurred two weeks earlier. If one is fond of animals – I don't know if your Honour has dogs, I do – the stealing of a dog is distressing, unpleasant and upsetting.

"It was in those circumstances that this offence was committed."

He added that Ferry had already spent four months as a remand prisoner on a charge of intimidating a witness in the case, which was later dropped.

Sentencing Ferry, Judge Picton told Ferry he had caused "fear, stress and upset" on that day, but accepted he had wrongly served more time in jail that the offence "could ever justify".

Judge Picton added: "Those who object to hunting are entitled to go about that process of objection lawfully just as much as someone engaged in hunting is entitled to practice it in a lawful way.

"People have to peacefully co-exist no matter what their differing view and opinions."

After the case, which was held at Cirencester Magistrates' Court, sitting as Gloucester Crown Court, Ferry declined to comment.

But he was heard to tell his girlfriend. Francesca Nimmo. who was there to support him: "Phew."

His mother, Lucy Birley, 48, a former model, was also in the public gallery at the hearing.

In the case of Ferry, the £350 was ordered to be paid as compensation to Ms Ghalmi. In Deutsch's case the same sum must be paid to Ms Grima.