Sheep rustlers jailed for Lancashire and Yorkshire thefts

Andrew Piner was sentenced to 34 months and Thomas Redfern was jailed for 21 months

Two sheep rustlers who stole animals worth £35,000 from farms in northern England have been jailed.

Eighty-eight ewes were taken from Newton Hall Farm near Skipton, Yorkshire, and Curwen Hill Farm near Wray, Lancaster, in 2013 and 2014.

Andrew Piner, 49, admitted theft and burglary, while Thomas Redfern, 26, was found guilty of the offences last year.

The men were sentenced to 34 and 21 months respectively.

Redfern, of Chisholme Close, Standish, worked at the farm in Yorkshire.

A total of 88 sheep were stolen in Yorkshire and Lancashire

Thirty crossbred mule ewes worth about £5,000 were stolen from Newton Hall Farm in September 2013.

Then in February 2014, 58 pedigree animals worth £30,000 were stolen following a burglary at Curwen Hill Farm.

The pair were caught after the stolen sheep were found at Lathams Farm near Slaidburn in Lancashire, which was managed by Piner, of Deer House Cottages, Gisburn.

Some were also found at a second address he rented.

PC Andrew Massingham, community beat and wildlife officer for the Lower Lune Valley, said: "These thefts had a significant impact locally as they were committed by people working within and trusted by the farming community.

"It is completely unacceptable that people in such positions carried out these despicable crimes."