Callous driver kills ewes and just leaves them

A PLYMOUTH farming family have spoken of the devastating consequences of speeding drivers on the moors – after four ewes were killed “in one go” at the weekend.

- KATIE OBORN

Farmers say the attitudes of some drivers towards livestock on Dartmoor is “appalling”.

Four sheep were found dead by police on Sunday night on the B3357 near Cox Tor in Dartmoor National Park. Police called Karla McKechnie, livestock protection officer at The Dartmoor Livestock Protection Society when they discovered the dead animals.

Karla said the police stated it was clear that the ewes were hit by a vehicle as there were skid marks nearby and collision damage to the sheep.

As well as being upsetting for farmers seeing their animals killed in this way, this is their livelihood – and the farmers will have to pay £300 “to correctly dispose of these dead sheep”.

Livestock officer Karla said: “It’s not acceptable to leave an animal like this, the driver could have called in to say what had happened and we could have tended to them.