Farm manager and stockman jailed for £35k sheep thefts
Beltex ewes - the same breed of sheep that were stolen by the men ©Tim Scrivener A farm manager and his stockman have been jailed for a total of 55 months for stealing sheep worth £35,000 from farms in northern England.
Thirty crossbred mule ewes worth £5,000 were stolen from Newton Hall Farm near Skipton, North Yorkshire in September 2013.
And 58 pedigree Beltex and recipient mule ewes carrying Beltex embryos, worth £30,000, were stolen after a burglary at Curwen Hill Farm, near Wray in Lancaster in February 2014.
See also: Rustlers who stole more than 100 sheep jailed for three years
Farm manager Andrew Piner, 50, of Mill Lane, Gisburn, Lancashire, pleaded guilty to the thefts and was sentenced to 34 months in prison at Preston Crown Court on Thursday (7 January).
Thomas Redfern, 27, of Main Street, Gisburn, was found guilty of the thefts following a trial and was jailed for 21 months.
Mr Redfern worked at the farm in Yorkshire at the time of the thefts, the court was told.
 Andrew Pinner – photo courtesy of Lancashire Constabulary |
 Thomas Redfern – photo courtesy of Lancashire Constabulary |
Police in Lancashire and North Yorkshire launched a joint investigation, assisted by the farming community, which involved gathering DNA evidence and forensic analysis of telephone communications.
As a result, officers carried out a search of Lathams Farm, which at the time was being managed by Mr Piner.
Stolen sheep from both farms were found and recovered at Lathams Farm and at another farm nearby, which was rented by Mr Piner.
Speaking after sentencing, PC Andrew Massingham, community beat and wildlife officer for the Lower Lune Valley and investigating officer, said: “These thefts had a significant impact locally as they were committed by people working within and trusted by the farming community.
“It is completely unacceptable that people in such positions carried out these despicable crimes which affected the lives and livelihoods of the victims.
“We work very closely with the NFU and farmers in the area and we have created the Farmers Network.
“There is a very close working relationship with the rural community and the outcome of this case sends a clear and unequivocal message that crime within rural areas with be investigated and those concerned will be brought to justice for their actions.”