Commoners Defence Association chair Andrew Parry-Norton and wife Sarah’s shock as sheep are stabbed and mutilated in Cadnam

A flock of sheep have been found mutilated in the Forest by their owners who have branded those responsible “sick” and “perverse”.

Commoners Defence Association chair Andrew Parry-Norton and wife Sarah, who run a farm in Cadnam, have spoken of the “horrific” ordeal discovering the stabbed animals after the attacks early yesterday (Thursday) morning.

Andrew told the A&T: “I had a call at 7.10am from a neighbour who had found a lamb which had bled to death by her front gate.

“As I was about to go to that, I had a call from agister Jonathan Gerrelli who thought one of my sheep had been hit by a car close to the Green Dragon [pub].

“I went there to find it had a four-inch gash to its side and it had most of its intestines hanging out, so it had to put down at the roadside.”

He was shocked to discover another lamb had its throat slit near Cadnam Green. As he headed home, he found another ewe and its lamb stabbed to their shoulders.

Another ewe was found by a neighbour with an unsurvivable large gash to its side, with its intestines protruding.

The couple, who say sheep deaths have been happening in the area for the past four to five years, believe a barbed spear or knife had been used.

Sarah told the A&T one sheep which had not immediately succumbed to its injuries had tried to make its way to safety.

She said: “It was horrific to see the poor sheep trying to make its way back home – they knew they needed help.

“To see an animal you’ve looked after and nurtured mutilated like that is so upsetting.”

She added: “We have a common right to have sheep out, and we should be able to do it and know they are safe.

“You accept the occasional one gets run over – it’s just unfortunate – but to lose [so many] in one day is just too horrific.”

The New Forest hs been plagued by a raft of sinister incidents over the past few years.

Last May commoner Patrick Langdown told the A&T he feared occult-style animal killings had returned to the area after one of his lambs was found dumped and with its throat slit at Long Cross Pond, near Fritham.

In January 2023 animal entrails – thought to include hearts – surrounded by a circle of 30 candles were arranged at the top of a trig point of Stagbury Hill, near Bramshaw.

In December 2022 the 12th century St Peter’s Church, on Judds Hill, was targeted twice, which the Rev David Bacon described as “upsetting.”

The first incident involved a dead cat hanging from a flagpole while the second saw a dead fox deliberately placed on the church doorstep.

In 2019 vandals sprayed the church walls with phallic and Satanic symbols.

Later that year police launched an investigation after sheep and cattle were found stabbed and sprayed with occult markings in the space of five days within a few miles of each other in the Bramshaw area, but the perpetrator was never found.

Talking about the incidents Andrew said: “We have had several years in a row of this sort of thing. Our neighbour lost three sheep last year after a car drove off the road and hit them, before going back onto the road.

“Another neighbour lost eight sheep – one was stabbed 13 times.”

The couple say they fear for their other animals – which will now be brought in – as well as their own safety.

Andrew said: “Whoever this person is needs to be caught. If they can do this to sheep, what else could they do if confronted?”

He added: “This is just pure sick [behaviour]. Someone must get some perverse enjoyment from it.”

A spokesperson for Hampshire police told the A&T: “We are investigating the incident and enquiries remain ongoing”.

Anyone who witnessed the incident should call 101, quoting incident number 44240194171, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.