A 76-year-old Forest of Dean man, who has already served a prison sentence for flouting a court ban on him owning dogs, has admitted two breaches of the order.

Jeremy Awdry, of Lydney Road, Bream, a sheep badger who is allowed to let his animals graze on Forest land, appeared at Cheltenham Magistrates’ Court on Monday (January 9) and pleaded guilty to breaching the order which prevents him from keeping dogs.

The offences were on June 19, 2022 in Lydney and on or about October 4 when he was observed controlling and transporting a black and white collie.

Prosecutor Alex Cook, for Forest of Dean District Council, told the magistrates that Awdry had been sentenced to 25 weeks’ imprisonment after he admitted breaches of the dog ban in February last year and that by pleading guilty today he was in also in breach of his post-sentence licence.

Mr Cook said: ‘‘It was within weeks of his release on licence from prison that Awdry was reported as being in possession of a dog and was seen transporting it in his vehicle in June.

“At the beginning of October last year, PC McDare had to stop her vehicle when she was faced by 15 sheep on the road.

‘‘She spotted Awdry with a dog which was controlling the sheep.”

Awdry, who was not legally represented at the hearing, but had taken legal advice, told the court that his wife of 40 years had died just days after he was released from prison.

He also told the court about the circumstances surrounding him from being banned, along with two other people, from keeping dogs indefinitely in 2021 after he admitted failing to meet the welfare needs of their puppies.

Presiding justice Steven Pitt told Awdry: “You’ve obviously got a lot to say.

“It’s also obvious that you have a story to tell.

‘‘This will be best done through a report writer, who will prepare background information on you to enable the justices to pass sentence on you.”

Awdry was told he will be sentenced at the court on March 6 and he was released on unconditional bail until that date so that the probation service pre-sentence report can be prepared.