Cornwall man banned from keeping dogs for 10 years following successful Criminal Behaviour Order application by council

A man from Cornwall whose dogs killed 22 sheep while roaming free has received a 10-year ban from keeping or owning dogs, after the local authority successfully applied for a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO).

Ross Jan Stone, of Coopeage Farm, St Austell, has been given 21 days to rehome his dogs or pass them over to Cornwall Council.

In May 2024, Stone was issued WITH a Community Protection Notice after his dogs were collected on “multiple occasions” by the council’s stray dog service. However, despite the order, he continued to allow his dogs to stray.

In December 2024, Stone was found guilty of five charges of breaching the Community Protection Notice and was ordered to pay £13,000 in fines and costs. 

Last month (25 March), Cornwall Council applied to Bodmin Magistrates’ Court for a Criminal Behaviour Order (CBO) to prevent Stone keeping dogs – presenting evidence that his dogs had killed multiple sheep.

According to the authority, during an attack which involved three of Stone’s dogs, 22 sheep were killed and six others had to be put down due to their injuries. Two of the three dogs involved in the attack were also put down. The third dog was not found. 

The magistrates were informed that in July 2023, Stone was prosecuted by the RSPCA and convicted of neglect and causing “unnecessary suffering” to another dog belonging to him.

He was given a Criminal Behaviour Order which bans him from keeping or owning dogs for 10 years.

Cornwall Council said: “It’s against the law to let a dog be dangerously out of control anywhere, including at home or in public.

“It is also legal requirement for all dogs to wear an ID collar and a microchip linked to the current owner’s contact information.”