Eight pro-hunt demonstrators, who entered the House of Commons chamber during a debate on a Bill to ban foxhunting have denied charges of disorderly conduct. The demonstrators were charged under section 5 of the Public Order Act after the incident on September 15. The men, including 22-year-old Otis Ferry, the son of rock star Bryan Ferry, and Luke Tomlinson (27), a close friend of Princes William and Harry, appeared before Bow Street magistrates court yesterday. All eight pleaded not guilty to using threatening behaviour or insulting words or behaviour or disorderly behaviour within the sight of a person likely to be caused harassment, alarm or distress. The men were granted unconditional bail. The next hearing, a pre-trial review, will take place on January 18 next year but the men will not be required to attend. A date for a trail is expected to be set at that hearing. Ferry, of Keepers Cottage, Eaton Mascott, Shrewsbury, has led the South Shropshire hunt since May. Tomlinson is a polo player of Down Farm, Westonbirt, Gloucestershire. The other defendants are David Redvers (34), a horse breeder, of Corsend Farm, Hartpury, Gloucestershire; Richard Wakeham (36), a surveyor of Alma Terrace, York; Nicholas Wood (41), a chef of Bowden Park, Lacock, Wiltshire; John Holliday (37), a huntsman of Ledbury Kennels, Bromsberrow, Ledbury, Herefordshire; Robert Thame (35), a polo player, of Pipers Cottage, Paley Street, Maid-enhead, Berkshire; and Andrew Elliott (42), an auctioneer of Laurel Cottage, Allbright Lane, Bromsberrow, Ledbury, Herefordshire. Outside the court, a small group of supporters had gathered. As the eight men emerged from the central London courts, their solicitor Matthew Knight spoke to reporters. He said the defendants had pleaded not guilty because if you do not intend to cause harassment, alarm or distress and reasonably thought you would not do so, you do not cause an offence and that is precisely what they say. He described the decision to bring the case as a monstrous waste of public money. He said that he understood, from speaking to some MPs, that the case had already cost more than £1 million, with more than 100 officers investigating. He said: Why do they consider this to be in the public interest? The answer is they have found themselves on a track they cannot get off. Mr Knight said he was considering calling a number of witnesses including Rural Affairs Minister Alun Michael who he claimed had told police in his statement that he had not felt alarm or distress. Ferry said outside the court he thought it was quite worrying that those bringing the case had nothing better to think about. He said: I think the more people who realise what is going on in this country the better. Im delighted they look in the morning and see us on the front page. When asked if he was prepared to go to prison, he added: No one wants to go to prison, do they? Mr Knight said the charge was the least serious public order offence, with a maximum sentence of £5,000 fine or six months imprisonment. | 
