John Kaka, Jonathon Dunick and Desi Cook appeared in Napier District Court yesterday after pleading guilty to burgling sheep and animal cruelty.

Kaka pleaded guilty to three charges of ill-treating an animal and eight charges of burglary.

Dunick pleaded guilty to three charges of ill-treating an animal, eight charges of burglary and one of breaching a community work sentence.

Cook pleaded guilty to three charges of ill-treating an animal and four charges of burglary.

The three had at various times, together or alone, spotted likely mobs of sheep, and caught them, hog-tied them, ''stacked and crammed'' them into vehicles, then killed and cut them up either for their own consumption or for sale.

On May 31, they were caught by police in Hastings with 14 sheep forced into the boot and back seat of a Mazda 626.

By the time police stopped the vehicle and found the sheep, two were dead and the rest were "noticeably drowsy, lethargic and exhausted".

Judge Bridget Mackintosh sentenced Kaka and Dunick to 10 months prison. Cook was sentenced to four months home detention and 100 hours of community work.

Dunick and Kaka were each ordered to pay $4567 reparation to the farmers from whom they stole the sheep. Cook was ordered to pay $55 reparation.