The animal, which had her throat cut, had just lambed, leaving the baby orphaned.
The distressing discovery of the sheep’s body, which had also had its legs cut off, was made at RSPB Saltholme on the outskirts of Hartlepool.
Cleveland Police’s Neighbourhoods Inspector Christian Duree said: “Sometime overnight, Monday into Tuesday (6-7 July), someone cut through a fence to gain access to where the sheep was grazing.They then killed the animal by cutting its throat.
They also removed its limbs and fleece and left the carcass.” Inspector Duree added: “Whoever was responsible for killing the sheep will likely have returned home with the animal’s blood on them. If you’ve seen meat offered for sale locally or if you have any information or relevant footage to help our enquiries, please contact Cleveland Police either online via the force website, or by phoning 101. Please quote reference 132597.”
Anyone with information can also pass it on anonymously to www.crimestoppers-uk.org or by phoning 0800 555 111.
