Suffolk sheep owner ‘horrified’ after animals found slaughtered and mutilated in field near Chelmondiston
Sheep grazing. Picture: JULIE KEMP - Credit: citizenside.com
A Suffolk sheep owner says she was horrified to learn three of her animals had been found slaughtered and mutilated - and fears those responsible may come back.
Lucy Davies-Morris, who has been looking after sheep since she was 13, said the animals had been killed in a ‘gruesome’ manner in a field next to the B1456 heading towards Chelmondiston.
She said two knives had been found nearby, along with a plastic bag containing tea towels and a bottle of cider.
She received a call at around 10am this morning while out in Ipswich from a dogwalker who had discovered the slaughtered animals.
“When she told me they had been killed and how gruesome it was I got very upset and started crying,” she said
“We went down there and as soon as we saw it, we called the police. It was horrifying.
“The sheep were found in a wooded area close to the field they were kept in.
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“Their throats has been cut and they had been started to be skinned. They had even chopped the head from one of them.
“It was gruesome. I am so worried they will come back.”
Ms Davies-Morris said the police had discovered a receipt in the plastic bag found close to the animals and investigating officers were looking to speak to the shop owner to see if the perpetrators had been caught on CCTV.
She suspects more than one person was responsible, saying it is not an easy task to catch a sheep on your own.
She added: “We have had dog attacks before but I have never seen anything like this.
“It looks like they left in a hurry, I would love to know what spooked them.”
A police spokeswoman said: “At some point overnight between Wednesday, February 21, and Thursday, February 22, an unknown offender has cut the throats of three sheep that were grazing in a field situated off Berners Lane, before removing the carcasses and leaving them in a small wooded area next to the field where two of three sheep were also left partially skinned.
“Two knives were also found nearby.”
Anyone who witnessed the incident, or saw any suspicious activity, should contact Suffolk police on 101 quoting crime reference 37/10489/18 or call Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.
