According to a recent article by Farmers Weekly farm crime has continued to dog the agriculture industry during 2015 with the National Rural Crime Network estimating the cost of such incidents could be as much as £800m.
Topping the list are the theft of tools, fuel and quad bikes.
Here are five of the most shocking crimes that UK farmers have been subjected to over the past 12 months:
1) Heifer strangled with rope in field near Whitby
A farmer in North Yorkshire was left appalled after she found a 16-month heifer strangled to death in its field near Whitby.
2) Thieves steal 300 sheep and 120 cattle in one night
Reports of one or two animals going missing are common place, but the idea that criminals were prepared to steal so many animals from a farm in Lincolnshire came as a shock.
3) Farmer has roof stolen twice in three weeks
Falling victim to thieves is bad enough, but when you lose the same item within a three-week period, as happened to one Cotswold farmer, then it is particularly galling.
4) Quad bikers run over and kill 23 sheep in the Cotswolds
A farmer from near Cirencester was left reeling after joyriders forced their way into his property and deliberately targeted his sheep with quad bikes.
5) Farmworkers shot at by Afghan fugitives
Two farm workers from Staffordshire cheated death in October after they were shot at by a gang of fugitive Afghan illegal immigrants.
Gepp & Sons have possibly the most experienced and established Rural Services Legal Team in the region. If you have any legal questions relating to farming and businesses in the rural community please contact Edward Worthy on either 01245 493939 or worthye@gepp.co.uk
The above is not legal advice; it is intended to provide information of general interest about current legal issues.
