A HUNTSMAN repeatedly pushed a protester into a ditch with his horse as she tried to monitor his foxhounds, a court heard.

Sheep farmer Christopher Marles, 46, rode the horse forward three times, forcing 50-year-old anti-hunt campaigner Helen Weeks off the narrow road each time.

Exeter Magistrates' Court heard yesterday that Miss Weeks was terrified and had a sore back and stomach after climbing out of the ditch three times.

Heavily-built Marles is a former whipper-in and committee member of the East Devon Hunt, who were out with their foxhounds at Whimple, near Exeter, when the confrontation happened in March.

Marles, of Farringdon, near Exeter, admitted common assault but magistrates adjourned the case for a special hearing to establish exactly what happened after the prosecution did not accept Marles' basis of plea.

The prosecution say Marles rode into the protester deliberately. He says it was an accident but admitted he was reckless in allowing his horse to get so close to her.

Karen Ball, prosecuting, said Marles was out with the East Devon Hunt on March 29 when he came across Miss Weeks and fellow hunt monitor Andrew Forsyth.

"Marles approached on his horse and made a comment to Miss Weeks, saying 'What's going on here then?'," said Miss Ball.

"He turned the horse towards her and the muzzle came into contact with her shoulder, causing her to fall backwards into a drainage ditch at the side of the road.

"She climbed out of the ditch and was in fear of being trampled by the horse. He rode backwards and forwards again and she was again forced into the ditch.

"She told him to stop but he again rode towards her and said: 'He's a lovely horse, he loves you'.

"The horse made contact for a third time and she again fell into the ditch. Mr Forsyth shouted at Marles and he rode the horse at him and he lost his balance and fell in the ditch."

Jennifer Stetson, defending, said Marles insisted he did not intend to harm the hunt monitors.

In a written basis of plea setting out his account of the incident, he said: "There was an altercation while she was on the ground and I was on the horse.

"I accept I walked my horse up to her on a few occasions and accept she was likely to feel alarmed and anxious about the closeness of the horse.

"She was scared and at one point pushed the head of the horse and I could not stop the horse turning his head back and causing her to fall into the ditch.

"I fully accept it was reckless because I was so close but I did not intend to assault her or for the horse to intimidate her or cause her to fall."

The case was adjourned for a special hearing in November, when the bench will see a video of the incident shot by Mr Forsyth.