An anti-hunt protester told a court he was prepared to be arrested for his actions until the ''barbaric sport" of fox hunting was made illegal.

Eoin McCarthy admitted a charge of threatening behaviour when he appeared before Chelmsford magistrates yesterday. He had faced a more serious charge of aggravated trespass but this was withdrawn.

He was fined £60 and ordered to pay £40 costs.

The charge related to a hunt meeting at Woodham Walter, near Maldon, last Saturday that resulted in the arrest of five protesters, one of whom was McCarthy.

Prosecuting, Keith Rylands, told the court McCarthy was seen by a police officer entering a private field alongside Guy's Farm in Manor Road on Saturday afternoon.

McCarthy was told by the policeman he was trespassing and told to leave. When he refused he was arrested.

When questioned he admitted he knew he was on private property. McCarthy, 28, of Kingsway in Cambridge , who was not represented, said: "I want to say this so-called sport is barbaric and is in the process of being made illegal.

"I am prepared to be arrested for my actions and I shall continue to do such actions until the barbaric sport is made illegal."

The court heard McCarthy, who is unemployed, had not been in trouble before.

The case against four other protesters was adjourned.

David Elliott, 28, of Church Street, Woodford, Kettering, faces charges of assaulting a police officer; John Morgan, 40, of Magdalene Road, St Leonard's, East Sussex denies threatening behaviour; Daniel Poustie, 31, of Magdalene Road, St Leonard's, East Sussex denies assault and Simon Debourcier, 29, of Kingsway, Cambridge, faces a charge of threatening behaviour.

They had their cases adjourned until February 10.

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