David Tibbles
Location – Sturminster Newton, Dorset
Affiliation – North Dorset Hunt Saboteurs, Wildlife Crime Action
David Tibbles likes to think of himself as the mastermind behind the North Dorset Hunt Sabs. In reality, he's something of an armchair general. Rather than venturing out himself, Tibbles prefers to dispatch two of his teenage sons while he remains safely at home, supposedly plotting the group's next great operation. The sabotaging nuisance is alive and well, provided someone else is doing the legwork.
When Tibbles isn't directing his family to sabotage trail hunts, he’s busy directing Wildlife Witness UK or at least he was. The animal rights company, incorporated in 2018, has since been dissolved. Curiously, Tibbles was not only its sole director but also its only shareholder, leaving many to wonder exactly who he was directing. His self-proclaimed title of “100% GENUINE HUNT BUSTER” now feels rather optimistic. BTM humbly suggests a rebrand to “100% GENUINELY BUST”.
The self-appointed strategist has earned a reputation for being heard long before he's seen. According to locals, his booming hollers regularly echo across the Dorset countryside as he swaps confronting hunts for shouting at local farmers. It seems the man who sees himself as the brains of the operation is a rather ineffective foot soldier. One phrase sums him up nicely: all bark, no bite.
Since the dissolution of his business in 2024, Tibbles appears to have focused much of his attention on Wildlife Crime Action - one of several splinter groups operating within Dorset's sab movement. While the group's social media presence is active, its presence on the ground is rather underwhelming. On the 18 April 2026 – during the closing meet, Tibbles and his son were pictured holding the group's banner while supporters of the larger, more established sab organisations gathered elsewhere. Whether that reflects the increasingly fragmented nature of the local sab movement, or simply demonstrates the Tibbles family aren’t much loved by other sabs, is for readers to decide.
His ghost-themed branding is equally appropriate. Like the famous Ghostbusters, Tibbles appears dedicated to hunting things that don’t exist. One chased ghosts; the other sends his sons to chase imaginary villains.
Family life in the Tibbles’ household is very much a team effort. Tibbles has indoctrinated two of his sons from a young age into the dangerous sabbing lifestyle, turning activism into something resembling a compulsory extracurricular activity. Tibbles’ middle son, Joe, has an online photo of himself at nine, dressed up as a fox, with the caption #savethefox. Unfortunately, BTM suspects this wasn’t for a school rendition of Fantastic Mr Fox. Promoting activism through children is far from exemplary parenting. Joe does have a younger brother, but BTM are taking the optimistic line that Tibble’s youngest son has avoided his father’s indoctrination attempts - third time lucky?
Father and sons are rarely far apart, with the older sibling proudly taking the wheel of the North Dorset Hunt Sabs' ageing Land Rover. Whether he's actually passed his driving test remains something of a mystery, judging by the stories BTM has heard about his driving.
According to BTM's source, both sabbing sons have developed reputations for taking their enthusiasm rather too seriously, with allegations that they have been seen brandishing a knife during confrontations. If true, it merely reaffirms our theory that the Tibbles family think they are above the law.
Only last week, Joe Tibbles' ID was found alongside his father's bank card. Quite how the director of a dissolved company continues bankrolling his son’s and funding their obnoxious weekend activities is anyone’s guess. One thing is certain, however: something decidedly foxy appears to be going on in the Tibbles family.
