Man banned from walking dogs near livestock after sheep attacks near Preston Capes
A seven-year court order has been issued after multiple pregnant ewes were chased, injured and killed by dogs in farmland near Preston Capes and Woodford Halse
Last updated 24th Jul 2025
A man has been banned from taking dogs near livestock for seven years after admitting his dogs repeatedly chased and attacked sheep in fields near Preston Capes.
Jose Lopez-Vidal, 62, from Laburnum Close in Woodford Halse, pleaded guilty to five offences of being the owner of a dog worrying livestock at Northampton Magistrates’ Court on 2 June.
Northamptonshire Police said the worst attack happened on 16 March this year, when two dogs chased and injured heavily pregnant sheep. One ewe later died after giving birth to three stillborn lambs.
Lopez-Vidal admitted to the farmer at the time that he owned the dogs, called Bandit and Ace.
The force’s rural crime team later linked Lopez-Vidal’s dogs to other sheep attacks on 12 December 2024 and 20 February 2025. All incidents resulted in sheep or lambs being distressed, injured, or killed.
Lopez-Vidal was fined £1,333 and ordered to pay £1,038.27 in compensation, along with a £533 victim surcharge and £85 in costs.
The court also confirmed a seven-year ancillary order under the Dogs (Protection of Livestock) Act 1953 on 14 July. It means he must not allow any dog under his control onto farmland where livestock is, or is likely to be, present.
WARNING: Distressing Images Below
A farmer affected by the attacks said: “This incident has really upset me, seeing what my ewes have gone through is heartbreaking. We respect our animals and look after them to the best of our abilities and I have lost confidence in people who go through our field.”
PC Chloe Gillies, from Northamptonshire Police’s Rural Crime Team, said: “Although Lopez-Vidal apologised to two of the farmers, he did nothing to stop further attacks. His failure to control his dogs caused unnecessary injuries and deaths.”
She added: “This is the first time I know of this kind of order being issued in our county, and I hope it shows that livestock worrying is taken seriously.”