THE owner of husky dogs that savaged sheep on nearby farms after a gate was left open by a delivery person has been told to pay more than £10,000 in compensation.

A court heard how seven dogs owned by Paul Richard Sheldon escaped from his home after the delivery person failed to bolt a garden gate.

More than a dozen sheep at four farms were killed by the dogs and several more were injured before the pets were able to be recovered, a court heard.

The animals were on the loose for up to a day before they were found, the court was told.

Sheldon, 43, admitted four counts of being the owner of a dog that worried livestock.

South Cumbria Magistrates' Court heard the incidents happened between December 13 and 14 2021.

The dogs managed to escape from the garden of Sheldon's property in Salthouse Road, Millom.

Some of them were quickly found but the last two were not tracked down until the next day.

By that time 16 sheep had died with Sheldon accepting responsibility.

Four farmers asked for compensation after their sheep were killed or injured.

Stuart Shepherd said eight of his sheep, some of them pedigrees, were killed, and asked for £5,775 in compensation.

Kenneth Todd claimed £2,756.22 after five of his sheep died.

Lorraine Wilson sought £460 after several sheep were injured by the dogs.

Another farmer had three sheep killed and claimed for £1,348.

Mr Graham said Sheldon had several security measures in place to keep the dogs at his home and would usually have parcels delivered to a business address.

He said: "It would appear on this occasion his partner did receive Christmas presents from her grandmother.

"The parcel was delivered but he or she hadn't bolted the gate."

Mr Graham said the delivery company had refused to take any blame for the incident.

He said Sheldon had since tightened security at his home.

Passing sentence, presiding magistrate Mike Halshaw said: "This was a unfortunate incident for everybody concerned.

"The bottom line is you were responsible. It's to your credit that you have never denied that.

"There was no evidence of negligence on your part."

Sheldon was ordered to pay £10,339.90 in compensation.

He will pay the money owed at a rate of £300 a month.