Family 'devastated' after goats stolen from farm

Hand-reared Fred Goat (left) and Big Fred (right) were taken from a family farm in Lincoln

A family said it has been left "absolutely devastated" after two of its hand-reared goats were stolen.

Emma Johnson, who lives at a farm in Dogdyke, Lincoln, said she noticed the goats, both called Fred, were gone on Thursday morning when it was "deadly silent".

She said it felt like a "violation" and questioned whether "it's worth the risk" to continue keeping goats on the farm.

Lincolnshire Police said it received a report of the goats "believed to have been stolen from a field" between Wednesday night and Thursday morning.

Emma Johnson said all the friendly goats have been stolen, with seven commercial ones left on the farm

She said the goats had been left outside on the night they were stolen due to the warm weather.

She discovered they had both gone at about 06:00 BST on Thursday morning.

"Big Fred had a bell and it was deadly silent. We knew something was going on because we couldn't hear it.

"He usually stands at the gate in the morning for his breakfast. Fred Goat was also missing," she said.

Ms Johnson said they had already increased security measures at the farm after another goat was taken three weeks before.

'Psychological scarring'

Ms Johnson said: "We've got a toddler in the family who was absolutely in love with that white goat.

"These are family pets so it's absolutely devastating."

She added: "It's the afterthought of thinking someone has been walking on my property at night without me knowing.

"That leaves a psychological scarring on you."

A spokesperson for Lincolnshire Police said: "We received a report of two goats believed to have been stolen from a field at a property in Dogdyke sometime between 23:00 BST on 18 June and 06:00 on 19 June.

"We would welcome any information that may assist our inquiries."

Meanwhile, police have appealed for information after the remains of a number of sheep were found in the Boston area at Hobhole Bank on 14 June.

They asked farmers to check their flocks to see if they had any livestock missing, particularly ewes and black headed rams.

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