Post by Deleted on Nov 14, 2012 15:30:59 GMT
Anyone with information can call police on 101 or Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.
menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1593632_sick-butcher-thieves-cut-legs-off-10-live-sheep-on-farm-in-cheadle-hulme
Sick thieves cut the legs off 10 sheep while they were still alive in a series of raids on a farm.
Farmer William Perkins, 65, found his butchered animals – including several pregnant ewes – dead with their back legs removed at the hip.
He says the limbs were taken off with great skill and thinks they have been sold for meat.
Mr Perkins and wife Joan have been left devastated by the four night-time attacks on their Stockport farm in the last fortnight – and police are warning other farmers to be vigilant.
Mr Perkins, of Lion House Farm, Ladybridge Road, Cheadle Hulme, believes a dog was used to round up his flock before they were attacked.
The farmhouse is away from the fields and the couple have been using their CCTV system to try to catch the criminals in the act.
Mr Perkins said: “It is horrific and barbaric but very surgical – they know about butchering and have cut the legs off 10 sheep at the hip bone.
“Someone has cut them off in a field in pitch black and also knows about sheep as none that have been killed are over two-years-old, as beyond that age they are mutton.
“Every night, I wake up and have a look at our CCTV to check if anyone is there.
“The people who have done this are inhuman to be able to cut the legs off an animal while it is still alive. To see what has happened the following day has been a massive shock.”
Mr Perkins, who lives with Joan and son David, has been breeding sheep for 20 years and now has around 70 left.
Among the rare breeds he has lost are castlemilk moorits, Portlands, black Welsh mountain sheep and Hebrideans.
Police are investigating. Insp Stephen Gilbertson said: “Whoever is responsible has gone to a lot of trouble.
“They have not even taken them away but done it in a field and left the carcasses for the farmer to find. The area is now on our nightly patrol plan and we could also use plain clothes officers.
“It could happen again and we want people in the area to call us if they hear a commotion or barking dogs or distressed sheep. We would also ask farmers to be aware of this and, if possible, keep animals inside at night-time.”
The attacks happened on October 25, October 28, November 4 and November 10. Two or three sheep were killed each time.
menmedia.co.uk/manchestereveningnews/news/s/1593632_sick-butcher-thieves-cut-legs-off-10-live-sheep-on-farm-in-cheadle-hulme
Sick thieves cut the legs off 10 sheep while they were still alive in a series of raids on a farm.
Farmer William Perkins, 65, found his butchered animals – including several pregnant ewes – dead with their back legs removed at the hip.
He says the limbs were taken off with great skill and thinks they have been sold for meat.
Mr Perkins and wife Joan have been left devastated by the four night-time attacks on their Stockport farm in the last fortnight – and police are warning other farmers to be vigilant.
Mr Perkins, of Lion House Farm, Ladybridge Road, Cheadle Hulme, believes a dog was used to round up his flock before they were attacked.
The farmhouse is away from the fields and the couple have been using their CCTV system to try to catch the criminals in the act.
Mr Perkins said: “It is horrific and barbaric but very surgical – they know about butchering and have cut the legs off 10 sheep at the hip bone.
“Someone has cut them off in a field in pitch black and also knows about sheep as none that have been killed are over two-years-old, as beyond that age they are mutton.
“Every night, I wake up and have a look at our CCTV to check if anyone is there.
“The people who have done this are inhuman to be able to cut the legs off an animal while it is still alive. To see what has happened the following day has been a massive shock.”
Mr Perkins, who lives with Joan and son David, has been breeding sheep for 20 years and now has around 70 left.
Among the rare breeds he has lost are castlemilk moorits, Portlands, black Welsh mountain sheep and Hebrideans.
Police are investigating. Insp Stephen Gilbertson said: “Whoever is responsible has gone to a lot of trouble.
“They have not even taken them away but done it in a field and left the carcasses for the farmer to find. The area is now on our nightly patrol plan and we could also use plain clothes officers.
“It could happen again and we want people in the area to call us if they hear a commotion or barking dogs or distressed sheep. We would also ask farmers to be aware of this and, if possible, keep animals inside at night-time.”
The attacks happened on October 25, October 28, November 4 and November 10. Two or three sheep were killed each time.
