Man charged after dead animals found near churches

St Theresa's Church in Totton was one of the sites where animal carcasses were dumped

A man has been charged after animal carcasses were left in locations around the New Forest, including outside churches.

Hampshire and Isle of Wight Constabulary said Benjamin Lewis, 47, of Kinross Road, Totton had been charged in relation to five incidents.

Dead deer and lambs were discovered at various locations in Bramshaw, Totton and Emery Down and Police said the incidents took place between 5 February and 29 April.

Mr Lewis will remain in police custody and is due to appear at Southampton Crown Court on 13 October.

Police listed the charges as:

• Four counts of racially/religiously aggravated criminal damage

• Four counts of racially/religiously aggravated intentional harassment/alarm/distress

• Two counts of theft

• Two counts of criminal damage

• One count of racially/religiously aggravated harassment without violence

Officers had previously said they had received reports of 12 incidents of carcasses left in close proximity to churches in Totton, Bramshaw and Lyndhurst between November and May.