Jose Lopez-Vidal, of Laburnum Close, Woodford Halse, near Banbury, pleaded guilty to five counts of being the owner of a dog worrying livestock.

He was ordered to pay £1,038.27 compensation, £533 victim surcharge, £85 costs, and fined a total of £1,333.

On Christmas Day last year he took his two dogs, Bandit and Ace, for a walk and lost sight of them for more than half an hour after letting them off the lead.

In that time, they chased and attacked a flock of pregnant ewes in a field between Preston Capes and Charwelton, which resulted in not only the death of three sheep but up to 25 per cent of the unborn lambs due to miscarriage.

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The savage attack was witnessed by the landowner who attempted to stop the out-of-control animals, but with the owner nowhere to be seen, he had no other option and fatally shot one and seriously injured the other.

Northamptonshire Police was called and from the deceased dog’s collar, officers were able to identify and contact the owner, who had found his injured dog, which has since recovered following veterinary treatment.

Lopez-Vidal was subsequently charged with two counts of being the owner of a dog worrying livestock and on April 13 at Northampton Magistrates’ Court, he once again pleaded guilty to the charges.

He was ordered to pay the landowner compensation for the full costs which was a total of £6,605.

Lopez-Vidal had already been issued with a community protection warning letter following his first conviction, however after the recent attack in December, he has now been made subject of a one-year Community Protection Notice.

PC Chloe Gillies, of Northamptonshire Police Rural Crime Team, said: “Jose Lopez-Vidal is fully responsible for not only what happened to the sheep but also for the fact that his dog also died following this incident.

“Sadly, due to him not having his dogs on the lead regularly, they ran off from him and have attacked sheep in the Charwelton and Preston Capes area for a long period of time.

“This incident on Christmas Day showed that Lopez-Vidal had an absolute disregard for the law. He knows what happens when he lets his dogs off the lead, yet he continues to reoffend.

“Farmers and landowners are within their right to protect their livestock from dog attacks and as in this case if there is no other option to be able to stop them, they can shoot them.

“As we see from this incident, the outcome of livestock worrying offences is devastating and we therefore welcome the new legislation which came into force in March, which not only gives the police more powers but allows the courts to issue unlimited fines.”

Ronaldo Tasha, of Princes Street, Oxford, was jailed at a sentencing hearing at Oxford Crown Court on Friday, May 1.

The 27-year-old was sentenced for being concerned in the supply of a class A drug, namely cocaine, and being in possession of criminal property, namely large volumes of cash notes, in Oxford on April 2.

READ MORE: Dogs killed sheep and unborn lambs on Christmas Day near Banbury

Ronaldo Tasha (Image: TVP)

Tasha was given a sentence of 40 months immediate imprisonment.

An order was also made for the forfeiture of cash seized, totalling £17,000.

Orders were also made for the forfeiture and destruction of drugs and paraphernalia.

Tasha must also pay the victim surcharge of £228.

The high street branches of the stationery and supplies chain was rebranded last summer after more than 480 stores were sold to Modella Capital, owner of Hobbycraft.

It has now announced a restructuring plan, described as ‘an essential part of the company’s turnaround’, which could result in the losses of some stores and jobs in its massive portfolio.

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Retail Gazette said stores understood to be at particular risk include the Oxford branch in Cornmarket Street, as well as others in Swindon, Chippenham, Hampshire and North Wales.

The retail giant said the company has been ‘loss-making’ over the past year due to many factors, not least because of ‘the forced name change from WHSmith’, which it claims negatively impacted brand awareness.

WHSmith in Cornmarket Street, before it rebranded to TGJones (Image: Newsquest)

A spokesperson for TGJones said: “TGJones has launched a formal process known as a restructuring plan to make the business fit for the future.

“The plan is an essential part of the company’s turnaround and will support further investment in stores over the long term. Modella Capital has committed to financial contributions totalling more than £35 million as part of the process.

“This decision has not been taken lightly. While we continue to believe in the strength of the core business, TGJones has experienced highly challenging trading conditions over the past year, along with many other brick-and-mortar retailers.

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“Weak consumer spending and cost-of-living pressures, combined with rising operating costs as a direct result of government policy and recent geopolitical events, have meant that the company as a whole has remained loss-making.

“The forced name change from WHSmith has also negatively impacted consumer awareness, despite the fact that the proposition has improved.

TGJones has announced a ‘restructuring plan’ (Image: Newsquest)

“The restructuring plan is designed to protect the substantial core of the store estate and create a stronger, more sustainable business that can continue to serve customers for years to come.

“We are extremely grateful to the many stakeholders who have pledged their support, including the Post Office and Toys R Us.”

The company added that ensuring the survival of the ‘iconic’ 234-year-old business is an ‘imperative’ in the scheme.

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Regarding store closures, the spokesperson added: “No decisions have yet been taken on how this will impact roles, but we will aim to preserve as many jobs as possible.

“Any potential store closures or role reductions will be subject to appropriate consultation, and we are committed to engaging openly and constructively with colleagues and their representatives.

“We want to be clear, however, that the plan may result in the closure of some stores and the loss of some roles.

“We recognise the impact this uncertainty will have on colleagues, their families and the communities we serve.”