Former Plumpton College students detained for 'sadistic' killing of sheep
BBC World
February 23, 2026
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In a shocking incident that has drawn widespread condemnation, two former students from Plumpton College, Leighton Ashby and Oakley Holland, have been jailed for their involvement in the brutal killing of a sheep. The pair, aged 22 and 20 respectively, were found guilty of beating the animal to death before inserting explosive bird scarers into its body while filming the attack. This骇人听闻的行为 occurred near Ditchling Beacon, East Sussex, on November 2, 2023.
At Hove Crown Court, Ashby received a two-year prison sentence, while Holland was sentenced to 20 months and sent to a young offender institution. Both were also banned from owning animals for ten years. The judge described their actions as "frankly sadistic," noting that their farming backgrounds and agricultural studies at Plumpton College made their behavior particularly disturbing.
The incident came to light after police discovered footage of the attack on Hollands' phone, along with the sheep's ear tags near a property in the area. During sentencing, Judge Jeremy Gold highlighted that the defendants acted for "their own perverse satisfaction," and expressed concern about their future risk to animals. The probation service agreed, deeming them high-risk individuals.
In response, Plumpton College issued a statement distancing itself from the students
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Originally published on BBC World on 2/23/2026