MASTER of the South Herefordshire Hunt, Mal Williams, has been cleared by a court in London of using threatening behaviour during a pro-hunt demonstration outside the Houses of Parliament last September.

It was alleged at London's Bow Street Court that Mr Williams grabbed a Police sergeant's baton and protective shield.

However, Mr Williams, aged 49, of Harkaway Cottage, Wormelow, Hereford, who was later arrested after police examined video footage taken at the time on September 15 last year, claimed at Bow Street Magistrates Court that he had acted in self-defence.

He claimed he acted in the light of officers hitting out, including at one of his employees, who later needed numerous stitches.

Although she dismissed the charge, District Judge Daphne Wickham, who said it was "not an easy case", bound Mr Williams over in the sum of £250 for 18 months to "keep the peace in public areas".

Police Sgt Paul Strudwick, of the Territorial Support Group, had told the court he was on public reserve duty in Central London. In the afternoon he was sent to the south side of Parliament Square.

He claimed that during the Whitehall demonstration Mr Williams grabbed the end of his metal baton with both hands and tried to pull it away.

He said he feared that if Mr Williams got it he might use it against him. He used a shield to push Mr Williams away and then, as he was not releasing his grip, turned the shield on its edge and jabbed it towards him.

"Fearing he would take the shield to use against police officers, I used my baton and struck out, which made him release the shield and I was pulled back to the police lines," he said.

"I saw him many times during the demonstration and identified him later from video evidence."

However, the judge said the incident with the baton and shield was not recorded on tape.

Giving evidence, Mr Williams said: "I grabbed the baton to defend myself."

He added that his kennel huntsman had been struck and required 15 stitches. That, he said, had happened around 10-30 seconds before the incidents involving him, which had began with an officer striking him on the hand.

He said he had been asked to go to the area "to calm the situation" but continued "I didn't envisage what I saw".

He said he could not say which officers struck the blows but claimed 10-15 were "indiscriminately" hitting the crowd.

He told the court he put up his hand, which stopped the first blow and his hand split.

"I thought he was going to strike again... but I couldn't leave because I felt I would be letting down my friend.

"I let go of the baton and got hold of the shield - he tried to strike me with the side - that would have been even worse."