Dog is banned from fields after killing a sheep
AMAN has been banned from taking his dog into farmers’ fields after it killed a sheep and bit its owner.
Jason Melvin Richardson, 39, of Rainow, appeared at Stockport Magistrates Court to admit two charges of being in charge of a dangerously out of control dog.
He also pleaded guilty to one count of being in charge of a dog that worried livestock, following an incident in October last year.
According to court documents Richardson’s border collie, named Jack, ‘worried and killed sheep and bit the owner of the sheep’.
It will be put down unless he adheres to a strict set of measures laid down by magistrates.
These include being excluded from all farmers’ fields, fitted with a muzzle and being kept on a lead in public with someone aged 16 or over in control.
Richardson’s home and garden, on Carlofold Lane, must also be made secure to prevent the dog’s escape.
His other dog, an unnamed Dobermann, was also dangerously out of control on agricultural land at Lidgetts Lane, Rainow.
Richardson was given a community punishment order with 150 hours of unpaid work and was ordered to pay £500 compensation with £85 costs and a £90 victim surcharge.
He will pay this off at the rate of £50 per month beginning February 5.
Following the sentencing PC Clark, from Cheshire Police’s rural crime team, said: “The unpredictable nature of a domestic animal combined with the irresponsibility of its owner may lead to sheep attacks like this.
“A momentary lapse of concentration or the denial that ‘my dog would never do this’ may end in a court result similar to that the owner of the dog who attacked this sheep has been given.”
The rural crime team has also warned owners of Landrover Defenders that the vehicle can be an attractive target to thieves.
It has stickers to give to owners saying ‘police stop me’ to put in the rear window and that can be collected by calling at Macclesfield police station.