Two agricultural students jailed for killing sheep with explosives in East Sussex

Two agricultural students have been sentenced to prison after killing a sheep in a violent and disturbing attack in East Sussex. Leighton Ashby, 22, from Ashford, Kent, and Oakley Hollands, 20, from Horton Kirby, Kent, admitted beating a sheep to death in a field near Ditchling Beacon on 2 November 2023. After killing the animal, they inserted explosive bird scarers into its body and detonated them, filming the incident on a mobile phone.

The pair, who were studying at Plumpton College at the time and both came from farming backgrounds, appeared at Hove Crown Court for sentencing. Judge Jeremy Gold described their actions as ‘callous’ and ‘frankly sadistic,’ stating that the attack was carried out for their ‘own perverse satisfaction.’ He emphasized that their agricultural education and upbringing made the crime particularly troubling.

Ashby was sentenced to two years in prison, while Hollands received a 20-month sentence in a young offender institution. Both men have been banned from owning animals for 10 years. The court heard that footage of the attack was discovered on Hollands’ phone, and the sheep’s ear tags were later found at a nearby property. According to the judge, the probation service considers both individuals to pose a high risk to animals in the future.

Plumpton College issued a statement condemning the students’ behavior, describing it as completely inconsistent with the institution’s values and standards regarding animal welfare and professionalism. Animal rights protesters gathered outside the court ahead of the sentencing, reflecting public outrage over the case.