A judge has sentenced a man who stole over £87,000 (approximately €103,000) worth of sheep to eight months in prison.
25-year-old Daniel Smith, from Sutton St. Nicholas, Hereford, appeared before Worcester Crown Court on Wednesday, August 4th, 2021.
Smith pleaded guilty to four counts of theft at Hereford Magistrates’ Court on July 7th, 2021.
Man stole sheep
He stole sheep, worth £87,640, from four locations in fields in the Marden, Sutton St Nicholas and Cross Keys areas of Herefordshire between November 2nd, 2020, and January 26th, 2021.
In a statement, West Mercia Police said:
“One of the victims identified sheep being sold as those stolen from his farm. Subsequently, 92% of the stolen sheep were recovered over the following two days in March 2021.”
Wildlife Crime Officer, PC Josh Kitchen of West Mercia Police, said:
“We hope that it reassures the farming community that livestock theft will not be tolerated. Police will fully investigate these incidents.”
He said livestock thefts across the UK totalled £2.3million in 2020.
“The act often causes suffering for the animals and additional financial pressures for farmers.”
“I would like to thank the farmers involved for their assistance in this investigation as well as the cooperation of Hereford Livestock Market.”
“Without their assistance, it is unlikely these sheep would have ever been recovered,” he added.
A proceeds of crime hearing is scheduled to take place on November 24th.
Woman ordered to pay over €3,000 after dog attacks sheep
In other court-related news, a judge has ordered a woman to pay £2,773 (approximately €3,220) in compensation after her dog worried livestock.
She pleaded guilty to two counts of being the owner of a dog that worried livestock following a hearing at Poole Magistrates’ Court.
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