Sixty six pregnant sheep stolen from Wimborne farm (From Bournemouth Echo)

Sixty six pregnant sheep stolen from Wimborne farm

4:00pm Saturday 5th March 2011 in News By Harriet Marsh

SIXTY SIX heavily pregnant sheep have been stolen from a farm near Wimborne.

Dorset Police are urging other farmers to be on their guard after the ewes were taken from fields at Merley Hall Farm in Ashington.

They’re worth around £8,000 - £10,000 themselves, but farmer John Wood says the damage to his future income will be much higher.

Mr Wood, 39, said: “I have several flocks so it wasn’t until we brought them into the lambing shed that we noticed so many were missing.

“It’s devastating really. I’m working 22-hour days and while I’m not going to plead poverty I do not need this at all.

“It’s not only the loss of the value of the sheep but the income from their lambs too.”

The thieves struck at the 500-acre farm along Willett Road between Saturday, January 15, and Monday, February 28.

Mr Wood says this is the largest number to be rustled from one of his farms.

“It’s not an ordinary crime,” he said. “You would have to know about animals to be able to do this.

“It’s certainly got a bit livelier recently as sheep are worth more now than they have been for a long time.”

The sheep had yellow tags reading UK 341825 in their ears, but Mr Wood says it will be hard to trace the culprits as they are easily removed.

He’s also warning people to beware buying cheap meat.

“There’s no doubt people are stealing sheep to slaughter them,” he said.

“Although mine haven’t had any medication, the thieves don’t know that – they could have been treated for any number of diseases.

“Anyone being offered cheap meat should know it could be toxic or harmful to humans.”

Anyone with information should call 01202 22 22 22 or Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.