A professional huntsman has been cleared of assaulting a hunt saboteur.

Jonathan Broise, 46, of London Road, Petworth, West Sussex, was found not guilty at Chichester Crown Court yesterday.

He denied assault causing actual bodily harm to Simon Wild, 45, during a meeting of the Chiddingfold, Leconfield and Cowdray Hunt near Petworth on October 9 last year.

He also denies the same charge against Mr Wild's wife Jaine, 48.

The jury failed to reach a verdict in relation to Mrs Wild and the case was adjourned until today.

The trial had heard how Broise clashed with the Wilds, from Bognor, during the hunt meet in Petworth Park at Pheasant Copse.

He had known of Mr Wild for 20 years and his wife for ten years. There was no love lost between them, the jury was told.

Mr Wild, who runs an animal welfare centre from the couple's home, caught the alleged incident on a video camera.

Footage played to the jury appeared to show Broise dismount from his horse and punch Mrs Wild in the face.

Mrs Wild, a library assistant at Chichester College, fell down and later claimed to have suffered a cut to her face.

Mr Wild admitted filming the incident rather than immediately going to his wife's aid.

As Mrs Wild lay on the ground, she used another video camera to film Broise fighting with her husband.

In evidence, Broise, who has been involved with hunting for 27 years and a huntsman for four years, claimed he was acting in self defence.

He said Mrs Wild had sprayed citronella in his face, a scent used by hunt saboteurs to put hounds off the scent of a fox. She also hit him with a whip, he said.

Broise told the jury that on the Saturday before the incident, Mr Wild had said he was due for a "really good slapping or kicking".

After the alleged altercation with Mrs Wild, Broise said he went to find his hunting horn in some bracken.

He added: "As I put my hand down I was aware of a boot coming out of the bracken, making a lot of noise, straight towards my left arm. I was still looking down at the ground so I did not know who the boot belonged to.

"I deflected the kick from it immediately, lurched backwards and came upright. I was aware it was Mr Wild."

Broise said Mr Wild had his fists in the air and was shouting: "You're going to get it this time, you bastard."

Broise said Mr Wild caught him on his lip and tried to continue to hit him. Broise said he then gave Mr Wild a "short jab to his face".