Flock of rare-breed sheep found abandoned in field

Police have appealed for help from the farming community to find the owner of a flock of rare breed sheep found abandoned in a field earlier this month.

Shocked landowner Alfred Willmot heard from a neighbour that Hebridean sheep – a mixture of rams, ewes and lambs – were in his hay field on Brackenthwaite Lane in Pannal, near Harrogate.

See also: Fleeced – police failure to tackle sheep rustling exposed

Mr Willmot told Farmers Weekly: “The sheep were dumped in a hay field that I rent to a local farmer. There was evidence of tyres tracks in the field.

“The sheep were a real mixed lot. There was only one that was tagged – one of the bigger ones. That tag was later found to be out of date.

“Whoever put them in there was probably fed up with them.

“Or, they may have stolen them and changed their mind.”

In the meantime, the sheep are being looked after by local farmer Josh Ryder.

North Yorkshire Police have described the flock as being in poor condition with no markings, apart from the one ear tag.

So far, extensive efforts to track the tag number and locate the owner have been unsuccessful.

Unusual circumstances

PCSO Matthew Cockerill, part of North Yorkshire Police’s rural taskforce, said: “This is definitely one of the more unusual situations I’ve experienced in day-to-day policing and very sad that a group of animals would be abandoned like this with no consideration for their safety and welfare.

“We don’t know what circumstances could have led to the sheep being left in this way – whether they have been stolen and dumped or whether their owner was no longer able to look after them.

“But we hope that we can find whoever is responsible and ensure the flock has a secure home for the future.”

Anyone who has any information about these sheep should call 101 quoting 12190119908, or the Rural Crime Reporting Line anonymously on 0800 783 0137.