21 Aug 2018
Farmer who protected sheep from dog attack landed with breach of the peace fine
He was hit with disbelief when he was landed with the fine following a bust up with the dog’s owners.
Lauren Dean
Jonathan Sloan, 28, was issued the £40 penalty and ‘accused of threatening behaviour’ towards its owners when intervening with a loose dog after it was seen chasing his 60-strong flock of Black-faced lambs.
He told the Courier: “One of my neighbours called to say the dog was in the field and had been chasing my flock for five or 10 minutes, with its owners running around after it to regain control but without success.
Done for breach of the peace. For stopping a dog from killing my sheep this morning. Accused of threatening behaviour. pic.twitter.com/zUSzCcmsmK
— Jonathan Sloan (@JASloan_Farm)Done for breach of the peace. For stopping a dog from killing my sheep this morning. Accused of threatening behaviour. pic.twitter.com/zUSzCcmsmK
— Jonathan Sloan (@JASloan_Farm) November 7, 2017
“It took me 10 minutes or so to get to the field myself and the dog was still there, still chasing my sheep with its owners in pursuit.
“I used my sheepdog to lure it away and then hit it with my shepherd’s crook before grabbing it.”
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A bust up with the dog’s owners prompted Mr Sloan to call the police but he was left gobsmacked when it backfired and they presented him with a breach of the peace for his behaviour ‘towards the people present’.
It later emerged no police action was taken against the dog or its owner against his claims of sheep worrying, despite previous history of the dog chasing horses.
It came just days after Police Scotland launched a month-long campaign to boost awareness among dog owners about the devastating effects of livestock worrying.
A Police Scotland spokesman said: “Mr Sloan’s behaviour in regards to the dog was legitimate and perfectly above board, but it was his behaviour towards the people present which got him the fine.”
The incident was the first of its kind in more than 12 years Mr Sloan and his family have been farming the land at Springbank Farm, Kinross.
He added on Twitter: “Nothing happening to the owners or dog.
“They made up a story I assaulted all four of them on my own to put the blame on me.
“The owners said they were going to kill me for hitting their dog. There was no apology.”
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