ONE of Carmarthenshire's county councillors has admitted in court that she owned sheep which strayed on to a busy road.
Sian Caiach, who represents the Hengoed ward on the council, appeared before Carmarthen magistrates.
Her defence solicitor told the court that the sheep, a particular mountain breed, "have a taste for escape'' and repeatedly broke through a hedge.
They made their escape last year on to the A484 road between Pembrey and Kidwelly, which has a 50mph limit.
Caiach, 55, of Parc Farm House, Trimsaran Road, Cwmbach, pleaded guilty to being the keeper of sheep which were found straying on a highway.
Prosecutor Anwen Evans said the incident happened shortly after 6pm on May 19.
A police officer on a mobile patrol saw two sheep on the main road, which then turned and ran through a clearly visible hole in a hedge, she added.
"The hedge had several openings in it and it looked as though someone had made one or two attempts to deal with these openings," she said.
The sheep re-emerged and the officer was able to shoo them back into the field and called Caiach, she added.
Ms Evans said the policeman knew the sheep belonged to Caiach as he had previously warned her, on several occasions, about them escaping onto the road.
Defence solicitor Laura Sherwood said Caiach had pleaded guilty at the first opportunity.
"She fully accepts these sheep were hers and apologises for inconvenience caused to the officer by his attendance.
"These are mountain sheep and once they have a taste for escape they continue to do so."
She said Caiach paid £980 immediately after the incident to properly enclose the field. Since that time, she added, Caiach no longer keeps sheep because of work commitments.
She was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £60 court costs.