Trophy hunters threaten to sue group of MPs for using photographs of them in an anti-hunting report

Trophy hunters are threatening to sue a group of MPs for using photographs of them in an anti-hunting report.

The 78 pictures, which show the hunters posing with dead animals including lions, zebras, giraffes and elephants, were included in a paper calling for a ban on trophy imports.

It was published last year by the now-defunct All-Party Parliamentary Group on Banning Trophy Hunting, chaired by Tory MP Sir Roger Gale.

Now the hunters are demanding payment for using the images and have lodged a series of civil court claims. They want £1,500 per picture, so the total bill could be nearly £100,000 plus legal fees.

Charlie Jacoby, who represents the hunters, said: ‘They used these pictures without permission to misrepresent hunting.

‘If we can’t get them on hate speech, we will get them on copyright.’

Gunmaker Paul Roberts, 78, is one of those whose picture features in the report. He said: ‘This was terrible, I was very offended by it. They used the photo without consulting me and presented it in a very misleading context.’ The APPG’s 279-page report, titled The Case for a Ban, is still available online.

Separately, the Parliamentary Standards Commissioner has opened an investigation into Sir Roger, understood to relate to the group.

Last night, Sir Roger told The Mail on Sunday: ‘It’s in the hands of the House authorities. The rules prevent me from commenting any further.’

Trophy hunters threaten to sue group of MPs for using photographs of them in an anti-hunting report

The news comes as legislation to ban the import of hunting trophies is going through Parliament. MPs voted in favour of the Hunting Trophies Bill on March 17 and it will now be considered by the House of Lords.

This article by Chris Pollard was first published by The Daily Mail on 30 April 2023. Lead Image: Trophy hunters are threatening to sue a group of MPs for using photographs of them in an anti-hunting report (file image).

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