Police investigate sheep carcasses dumped on roadside in Styal
Date of alert:
Friday 29 April 2022
Crime Ref:
Force:
Cheshire Constabulary
WARNING: This article contains graphic photos released by the police that some readers may find upsetting.
POLICE are investigating a ‘deplorable’ incident which saw sheep carcasses ‘unpleasantly’ dumped by the side of the road.
Officers from Cheshire Police’s Rural Crime Team were called to sightings of the suspected stolen sheep on Holly Lane in Styal yesterday, Friday.
They are appealing for anyone with any information to come forward, and for residents to report anything suspicious to the police.
The force says that while it is not regularly reported, livestock theft is a crime which is happening and is a big problem for farmers.
PC Jim Clark, from the Rural Crime Team, said: “Yesterday I attended Holly Lane in Styal to investigate reports of sheep carcasses dumped on the roadside.
“What I saw when I arrived was pretty unpleasant – it is not the animal parts that I find unpleasant, it is the manner in which they have been dumped that I find quite deplorable.
“Clearly I am no rocket scientist, however one would assume the livestock (two sheep) have been stolen, butchered and then entered the food chain, be it in a person’s home or one that serves paying customers.
“Theft of livestock is not a reported regular occurrence, however is clearly happening.
“We would urge owners of livestock to do the best they can to monitor their numbers and report any discrepancies. We can use this to plan our patrols accordingly.
