Police have launched an appeal for information after loose dogs killed 16 sheep and caused injuries to a further 30 sheep that will require the animals to be put down.
The incident happened in the East Bergholt area of Suffolk on the evening of December 20.
Sergeant Brian Calver from the Rural and Wildlife Crime Team said the incident was “by far the worst case of an attack on sheep” the force had come across.
“The suffering the animals must have gone through would have been terrible.
Dog ownership is a responsible thing so please remember, dogs that are allowed to worry livestock on agricultural land is an offence under the Dogs Worrying Livestock Act.
“Anyone who saw the dogs that were responsible or can describe them please get in touch with us.”
Police are asking anyone with information to contact Suffolk Police station, quoting crime reference 37/73715/20.
Man dies following quad bike accident
In other news, a man has died from injuries sustained in a quad accident in Co. Antrim over the weekend, the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) has confirmed.
In a statement to AgriLand, a PSNI spokesperson said:
“Police can confirm a man has died following a road traffic collision in Ballycastle on Sunday afternoon, December 20.
The collision was reported to police shortly before 3:50pm on Sunday. It was reported the man come off a quad bike on Ballyvennaght Road.
“He was taken to hospital for treatment of his injuries, but he sadly passed away in hospital yesterday afternoon.”
Inspector O’Brien is appealing to anyone who may have been on the Ballyvennaght Road and saw the man on the bike prior to when the collision was reported to police, or has dash cam footage, to get in touch.
Inspector O’Brien added:
“We are working to establish exactly what occurred and would ask anyone with information to call 101, and quote reference number 1202 of 20/12/20.”
