Second teen arrested after 14 lambs mown down in field

A second teenager has been arrested in connection with the killing of 14 sheep that were mown down by car in a farmer’s field in Surrey.

The incident took place at a farm in Bramley, near Guildford, overnight on 17-18 January.

A 19-year-old man, of no fixed address, has been arrested on suspicion of criminal damage. Surrey Police said he had been released on bail and the investigation was ongoing.

See also: Surrey police witness appeal after sheep mown down in field

He was also arrested on suspicion of a second count of criminal damage, two counts of common assault, and arson, in relation to separate incidents.

The final offence is in connection with a large fire that started in a barn at Tower Hill Farm, in Gomshall, on Saturday 13 January.

A 15-year-old boy from Redhill was arrested on Friday 19 January in connection with the death of the lambs in Bramley and the fire in Gomshall. He was also released on bail pending further enquiries.

‘Horrific’ aftermath

Bramley farmer Nick Hutley said he found 12 lambs dead in the field and a further two were injured and had to be put down.

He told Farmers Weekly: “We are a small sheep farm based in Bramley village, just outside Guildford. We have had a few incidents recently with stock being stolen.

“A few nights ago, joyriders drove through three padlocked gates – they took them off the hinges – and then drove around a small field, which had 40 lambs ready for market.

“Fourteen of them were run over and left to die. Some of them were still alive in the morning, so we had to humanely put them down.

“The police have taken action and made arrests. Locals are suffering from some really nasty crime in the Surrey Hills, an area of outstanding natural beauty where one would not expect these types of horrific crimes to exist.”

Appeal for information

Surrey Police has appealed to anyone with information on the incident or who may have other information, including seeing a damaged vehicle in the Bramley area at the time of the incident, to contact them.

The force is also looking for any dashcam or CCTV footage which may help with its investigation. Contact Surrey Police on 101, quoting reference PR/0185 of 18/1.