Leighton Ashby & Oakley Hollands, Sentencing Remarks 23 February 2026

On 6/11/23 you had both been drinking and decided to drive up to Ditchling Beacon and chase sheep. Both of you were studying at Plumpton Agricultural College at the time and you took 2 fellow students with you. Quite what satisfaction you could derive from chasing sheep is difficult to understand but you caught a lamb (a Romsey ewe) which you then kicked and beat to death for your own perverse satisfaction. The ordeal suffered by that defenceless animal is graphically portrayed on the video footage that you took during the attack. It is clear to me that you, Ashby, carried out most (but not all) of the violence while you, Hollands, filmed it presumably so that you could both remind yourself of what you had done and show it to others who you thought might be interested or impressed. As if what had already been done was not bad enough, you decided to insert fireworks into the lamb to cause further suffering and mutilation of this innocent creature. The fact that you both come from farming backgrounds and were studying at Plumpton at the time makes your callous and frankly sadistic behaviour all the more alarming and difficult to comprehend.

There are Sentencing Guidelines for this offence which I am obliged to follow. As both of your counsel agree, it clearly falls into the most serious category as a 1A offence of both high culpability and category A harm. Such an offence attracts a suggested starting point of 2 years imprisonment and a range of between 6 months and 3.5 years before the appropriate reduction for a Guilty plea. Counsel on behalf of you both have submitted that I should impose suspended sentences in the light of various matters that have been advanced separately on behalf of each of you. However, in my judgement, there can be no doubt that the facts of this case are truly shocking and immediate custodial sentences are inevitable.

Leighton Ashby  – you were 20 years old at the time, you are now 22 and are of previous good character. I have read the probation report, mental health assessment and all the other material in your case and I bear in mind the contents of those documents. I have listened with care to everything that your counsel has said on your behalf. Not surprisingly, you are regarded by the probation service as presenting a high risk to animals in the future. You were excluded from Plumpton College as a result of this incident and you were able to find employment. The appropriate sentence in your case would have been 3 years had you contested the case but you are entitled to a one third reduction to reflect your early Guilty plea in the Magistrates’ Court. The sentence I impose is therefore one of 2 years imprisonment

Oakley Hollands – you were 18 years old at the time, you are now 20 and are also of previous good character. You were to a certain extent less involved in this disgraceful incident than Ashby, but you did participate in the violence and were present throughout, encouraging Ashby by filming it, and you provided the fireworks that were used in the way I have described. I have also read the probation report and mental health assessment in your case and listened with care to the submissions made on your behalf by your counsel and you have provided a number of impressive references from those who know you and hold you in high regard despite your participation in these events. You also present a high risk to animals in the future in the opinion of the probation service. You too were able to find gainful employment after these events despite also being excluded from Plumpton College. The appropriate sentence in your case would have been 30 months had you contested the case, but you are also entitled to a one third reduction to reflect your early Guilty plea, so the sentence will be 20 months in a Young Offenders’ Institution.

I am making a disqualification order under s.34 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 against you both for a period of 10 years from today in terms at Q21 and 22 of DCS.

You are both likely to be released from custody after serving 40% of your sentence. You will be subject to licence conditions when released and if you breach any of those conditions you will be liable to be returned to custody.

If the surcharge provisions apply in this case, the order will be drawn up accordingly.

HHJ Jeremy Gold K.C.