'He's their pack leader': Man who shares his home with 50 dogs escapes an ASBO after judge rules he has the 'right to a family life'

When Andrew Debidin moved to a new home with his pack of nearly 50 German Shepherds, his neighbours were understandably concerned. And they claim that their worst fears were confirmed over the next few months when the din from nearby kennels left them depressed and exhausted, forcing the council to seek an Anti-Social Behaviour Order to reduce numbers and control the noise. But yesterday a sheriff dismissed the Asbo bid and allowed Mr Debidin, who she described as the 'pack leader', to keep all his animals. Referring to Mr Debidin’s human rights, Sheriff Susan Raeburn ruled there was no justification to interfere in his 'family life' with his dogs. She said that while his circumstances were 'unusual' - Mr Dedibin sleeps with all but two of his pets in a caravan in a remote rural compound - his lifestyle does not amount to anti-social behaviour. The reclusive 58-year-old already has a history of owning noisy dogs and was jailed and banned from keeping the animals in England. The former Vidal Sassoon hairdresser moved to the plot near Rothiemay, Moray, early one morning in 2006 after fleeing from Ardersier, near Inverness, when Highland Council won an Asbo against him.Read more