Leighton Ashby, 31, of Beckett Road in Ashford, Kent, and Oakley Hollands, 20, of Mussenden Lane in Horton Kirby, Kent, drove up to a field near Ditchling Beacon in the South Downs in November, 2023, and began chasing sheep.
The pair caught one sheep and violently assaulted it, using explosives called ‘bangers’ to cause catastrophic injuries to the animal, police said.
Footage of Ashby carrying out the attack was found on Hollands’ phone, as well as videos of an unidentified person attacking both live and deceased animals.
The sheep’s ear tags were also found in a property nearby, understood to have been taken from the scene by Ashby.
The attack was reported to Sussex Police on November 6, 2023.
Both men were arrested on November 8, 2023, and subsequently charged with causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal.
At Brighton Magistrates’ Court on August 7, both men pleaded guilty and were released on bail pending sentencing in October.
Superintendent Rachel Swinney said: “This was an appalling act of cruelty on a defenceless animal, filmed by the perpetrators for their own gratification.
“A thorough investigation was conducted as soon as a report was received and we have worked with local farmers and the wider community to offer reassurance and advice.
“We remain committed to protecting our rural communities and will continue to work with our partners to clamp down on rural crime.”
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