Twisted Pair Who Blew Up Sheep with ‘Bangers’ Locked Up

Two men who admitted killing a sheep in a shocking attack on the South Downs have been jailed. Leighton Ashby, 22, of Beckett Road, Ashford, Kent, and Oakley Hollands, 20, of Mussenden Lane, Horton Kirby, Kent, targeted livestock in a field near Ditchling Beacon on the evening of 2 November 2023. The pair drove to […]

Two men who admitted killing a sheep in a shocking attack on the South Downs have been jailed.

Leighton Ashby, 22, of Beckett Road, Ashford, Kent, and Oakley Hollands, 20, of Mussenden Lane, Horton Kirby, Kent, targeted livestock in a field near Ditchling Beacon on the evening of 2 November 2023.

The pair drove to the area before chasing sheep across the field. They caught one animal and violently assaulted it, using explosive “bangers” which caused catastrophic injuries.

The attack came to light after footage of Ashby carrying out the assault was discovered on Hollands’ mobile phone. Officers also found videos showing an unidentified person attacking both live and deceased animals. The sheep’s ear tags were later recovered from a nearby property and are understood to have been taken from the scene by Ashby.

The incident was reported to Sussex Police on 6 November 2023. Both men were arrested within two days and charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.

At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on 7 August 2025, the pair pleaded guilty.

They were sentenced at Lewes Crown Court on Monday, 23 February. Ashby was jailed for two years, while Hollands was sentenced to 20 months in a young offenders’ institution.

Superintendent Rachel Swinney said: “This was a disturbing incident that has been treated with the seriousness it deserved.

“Both of these men have now faced justice for their crimes, which should send a clear message that we will protect our rural communities and hold offenders to account.”

Police said the case highlights their commitment to tackling rural crime and safeguarding livestock across Sussex.