A woman was yesterday ordered to pay a farmer compensation after her dogs mauled a sheep.

Lesley Reid’s two German Shepherds worried livestock on Aldie Farm, Cruden Bay on March 16 this year.

She appeared at Peterhead Sheriff Court yesterday having previously pleaded guilty by letter.

Fiscal depute Ruaridh McAllister said an employee at the farm saw the blood-stained pets running round the field and used his vehicle to chase them away.

He said: “A farm worker became aware of two Alsatians in the field and he noticed one of the dogs had blood on its mouth.

“He began driving his tractor towards the dogs to scare them off and he saw Miss Reid at the bottom of the field.

“She grabbed them and got control of them. A sheep died as a result of this.

“Miss Reid was questioned by police and made admissions to losing control of the dogs at the time.”

Sheriff Christine McCrossan asked Reid if she had anything to add to her guilty plea letter and the 35-year-old said she did not.

Referring to the document, Sheriff McCrossan said it was clear Reid took “full responsibility” and that she was “sorry” about the sheep worrying.

Sheriff McCrossan ordered Reid, of Stirling, Peterhead, to pay £375 in compensation to the farmer within one month.