‘Horrific’ slaughter of two pregnant pigs by trespassers sees police called to R&C Mellor Ltd in Crimplesham

A “horrific” incident which saw two pregnant pigs killed by trespassers has left farm owners in shock.

Police were called to R&C Mellor Ltd on Lynn Road in Crimplesham after employees discovered the heads of the animals discarded in a pond, with large patches of blood trailing from the paddock.

Officers believe it happened between 6pm and 8am on Saturday and Sunday.

“One of our lads who noticed it was very shaken up,” said Charlotte Mellor, who owns the award-winning farm with her husband Richard.

“We look after the pigs every day, whatever the weather, Christmas or New Year’s - it makes no difference.

“You do everything you can to give them the best life they can have, the pigs always come first.”

The couple say the two sows, which weighed approximately 200 kilograms, were shot, had their guts removed and were dragged over the top of a four-foot high fence with barbed wire on the top.

“It’s not just one or two people who have done it, with two sows that have been done, there has got to have been quite a few people to be able to do that.”

There are also concerns about a biosecurity risk as pigs are very susceptible to disease.

Charlotte said that usually when outside people have contact with the pigs, a number of protocols have to be in place to ensure the animals are not in danger of getting ill.

Additionally, there are worries about the farm’s financial loss and the safety of both the employees and the 1,100 other pigs.

“It’s a risk to our business as those sows aren’t there to produce piglets for the future,” she added.

“It’s worrying when my husband and my employees could be out there in the dark doing a job and there could be a group of men or women out there with guns and very sharp knives.”

The owners are now warning other farms in the area to stay vigilant and suspect that the culprits did it for food - to take home and eat the meat.

“We can’t think of any other reason,” Charlotte added. “It’s horrific.”

Anyone with information is being asked by police to get in touch via their website here.

Alternatively, you can email samuel.nelson@norfolk.police.uk or phone 101, quoting reference: 36/91942/24.