Youths who killed sheep detained

Two teenagers who chased and killed a pregnant sheep in Norfolk have both been detained for four months.

The sheep was punched, kicked, hit with a fence post and stabbed with a garden fork before its remains were dumped in a bin, King's Lynn Magistrates heard.

Tristan Roberts and Jonathan Wilson, both aged 17 and from Wells, admitted causing unnecessary suffering.

The RSPCA described the teenagers' crime as "sick" and hope the sentence will send out a message to others.

Lucille Reed, from the RSPCA, said: "The ewe would have been terrified and suffered hugely throughout.

I am very pleased with this sentence and hope that it sends out the message that cruelty to animals will not be tolerated Lucille Reed, from the RSPCA

"This was a case of sick and unnecessary violence which caused a great amount of distress to the sheep and her owner.

"I am very pleased with this sentence and hope that it sends out the message that cruelty to animals will not be tolerated."

Magistrates lifted legal restrictions preventing the youths being named after a reporter from the Eastern Daily Press newspaper successfully argued that the public had a right to know their names.

Earlier this year a 15-year-old boy was given a referral order after admitting chasing the sheep.