A man has been fined more than £6,000 after a group of dogs mauled a number of sheep on multiple occasions.

The first incident was on October 22 last year in a field off Chart Hill Road in Chart Sutton, near Maidstone, when three dogs chased and attacked several ewes which fell into a river and drowned.

The dogs also mauled and seriously injured a number of other sheep.

Two days later, on October 24, the dogs returned to the same location and killed another four sheep.

The case was investigated by Kent Police’s Rural Task Force which led to a hearing at Maidstone Magistrates’ Court on June 12.

A man in charge of the dogs pleaded guilty to two counts of sheep worrying.

He was ordered to pay £5,000 in compensation to the owner of the sheep and a fine of £1,150.

Under the Animals Act 1971, a person acting to protect livestock may be able to kill or injure a dog they reasonably believes is “worrying” without incurring any criminal or civil liability.

As a dog owner or a person in charge of a dog, you could be committing an offence if your pet worries livestock on agricultural land.

Worrying includes attacking or chasing livestock in a way that might reasonably be expected to cause injury or suffering or loss.

It can also be an offence to have a dog in a field or enclosed space where livestock is being kept, when the dog is not on a lead or under close control.

Sergeant Darren Walshaw of the rural task force said: “These were particularly nasty incidents, leading to some distressing injuries and ultimately the deaths of eight sheep, several of whom were pregnant.

“So far this year, we have seen almost 50 reported incidents of sheep worrying across Kent, and as well as the suffering caused, attacks can lead to huge financial losses for farmers: including vet bills and the cost of replacing the animals.

“This is a significant penalty and a reminder of why we always urge owners to keep pets under control around any livestock.

“It is important to also remember that farmers are within their rights to sometimes shoot dogs, if they are deemed to be worrying their flocks.”