Sheep worrying could lead to jail for dog owner

A man whose dogs worried livestock in Caithness could face a jail term.

Christopher Page admitted being the owner of the dogs at Wick Sheriff Court on Wednesday.

The 53-year-old, of Bronx Cottage, Scarfskerry, has a previous conviction for the same type of offence.

On September 17, last year, two of Page's dogs, a husky and a German shepherd, attacked a pigmy goat at Little Croft, Scarfskerry, and one of them bit it.

The court hear that on December 5, this year, two of the accused's dogs, an Alsatian and an Akita cross, chased sheep at Rattar Mains, Scarfskerry and a ewe was bitten and fatally wounded.

Sheriff Lindsay Foulis noted the accused's previous conviction and said the sentence could attract a custodial term.

However, he said that in light of a report he had received from Highland Council, he would call for a background report on the accused and would consider it before passing sentence on January 25.