Teen in court over brutal sheep killing

7:10am Wednesday 20th August 2008

An East Molesey teen has appeared in court in relation to the brutal killing of a pregnant ewe with a garden fork.

The 17-year-old, who can not be named for legal reasons, appeared in Lynn Youth Court, Norfolk, on August 12, alongside another 17-year-old from Burnham Market, Norfolk, accused of chasing the sheep and aiding and abetting others to injure it.

Both of the defendants admitted the charges, but denied causing the injuries which killed the sheep, which had been kept as a pet.

They have both been bailed and will appear at the court again on Tuesday, September 2, for pre-sentence reports.

The court was read out a list of distressing injuries the pet sheep, named Helga by her owners, suffered.

They included a severed spinal chord, a ruptured liver, a dislocated neck and broken ribs and upper jaw.

As well as being stabbed with the garden fork, the sheep also endured a horrific beating which broke its lower jaw and fractured its larynx, before being thrown in a wheelie bin.

A 15-year-old, who also cannot be named for legal reasons, admitted to chasing the sheep and was sentenced to an eight-month referral order and charged £200 for costs and £200 compensation.

The prosecution claimed the three youths went to a field in Wells in north Norfolk, on March 23 this year and caught the sheep before beating and stabbing it.

They said it was impossible to tell which youth caused which exact injuries.

James MacWhirter, defence counsel for the Surrey teenager, said his client was remorseful for his part in the attack.

He said the teenager had apologised to the sheep’s owner and also his family for letting them down and was joining the army in October.

A spokesman for the RSPCA said: “It was a horrific and senseless attack and the sheep would have been terrified during the incident. We are pleased that people have pleaded guilty and will receive the appropriate sentence.”