Fine for crofter over sheep worrying incident at Scarfskerry

A flock of sheep and lambs were worried by a dog that escaped from a croft in the Scarfskerry area, Wick Sheriff Court heard on Thursday.

The flock was chased by the Akita, a Japanese breed. Three lambs were attacked and one of them had to be put down.

It led to the crofter Christopher Page (52) being charged as the owner of a dog that worried the sheep in a field near Shore Road, Scarfskerry, on June 4.

He pleaded guilty and was fined £200. Sheriff Andrew Berry also ordered the accused to pay the owner of the sheep compensation of £737.87.

The court was told that Page, of Bronx Cottage, Scarfskerry, was already subject to a council dog control order following an earlier incident involving the dog, named Chewy.

Page, who represented himself in court, said that he subsequently constructed a fence to keep the dog, and other dogs he owned, from getting loose and installed CCTV. However, Chewy managed to make a hole in the fence and escaped.

Sheriff Andrew Berry said there was no need to impose further restrictions on the accused as he was already subject to a dog control order.