Shepherd breached flock ban order

Jeremy Awdry admitted five counts of breaching the Asbo

A shepherd whose 500 sheep intimidated neighbours has admitted breaching an order which banned his flock from a Forest of Dean village.

Jeremy Awdry lost the ancient right to graze sheep in Bream after they were reported straying into gardens and damaging fences.

Awdry, aged 59 pleaded guilty to five counts of breaching the five-year Asbo.

At Gloucester Crown Court on Monday, Judge William Hart adjourned the case for pre-sentence reports.

The flock was part of the "intimidation of people living in the area", prosecutor Brendon Moorhouse had told the court.

For 500 years Forest of Dean-born commoners were able to let livestock graze freely.

But recently several councils have received complaints of sheep droppings and property damage.

Before he pleaded guilty Awdry was due to stand trial on 21 counts of breaching the order, made after more than 40 complaints were submitted to Gloucestershire police.