Kent Police sanctions man for sheep worrying offences

A man has been banned from having a dog off a lead in public in seven counties, following sheep worrying incidents near Ashford, Kent.

Charlie Hawker has been given a criminal behaviour order (CBO) after sheep and unborn lambs died when his dog chased them earlier this year.

Kent Police’s rural task force was granted the seven counties CBO against Mr Hawker after he admitted two counts of being the owner of a dog worrying livestock.

See also: What to do if you’re a victim of… sheep worrying

On Thursday 10 March, Mr Hawker’s dog chased and attacked a sheep on farmland near Kenardington, leading to the sheep’s death.

On Friday 8 April, the dog attacked an in-lamb ewe on farmland near Appledore. The sheep and two unborn lambs died.

Mr Hawker, 28, of Appledore Road, Kenardington, was fined £300 for each offence and ordered to pay both victims compensation at Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on Thursday 9 June 2022.

The CBO enforces strict dog control measures and applies in Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire, Hertfordshire, Norfolk, Suffolk and Essex, as well as Kent.

The CBO prevents Mr Hawker from:

• Being in possession or control of a dog on private land without the owner’s written permission
• Walking dogs in public unless they are muzzled and securely on a lead with a metal clip attached to the collar
• Allowing his dogs to be off a lead, unless on private land with the owner’s written permission.

PC Paul Williams, from Kent Police’s rural task force, said: “CBOs of this kind are designed to prevent all kinds of crimes using dogs, including sheep worrying, hunting, poaching and hare coursing.

“Farmers have a right to raise their livestock without fear of dogs killing their animals and damaging their livelihoods.

“We will take action against repeat offenders like Mr Hawker and I hope the CBO we have obtained protects farmers in Kent and the six other counties involved in this scheme.”