Baby goats safely home after being stolen from East Sussex farm

Police are continuing investigations into the theft in Hailsham

Author: Ryan BurrowsPublished 8th Jul 2024

Three baby pygmy goats have been returned safe and well to their owners after they were stolen from a farm in Hailsham.

Rural crime officers launched an investigation after the trio were reported missing from Honeycomb Farm, off the A22, on Monday (July 1st).

The three goats were found abandoned in a field off Stonehurst Lane in Uckfield on Thursday night.

Their ear tags had been removed, causing minor injuries, but were otherwise unharmed.

The goats’ owner, Paul Koc, said:

"We want to thank everyone who shared on social media, the press who broadcast the story and Sussex Police for their work on the investigation.

"We’re so pleased they have been returned, it means so much to us and especially my daughter.

"We now want to find out who the culprits are, so this doesn’t happen to anyone else.”

The trio are getting used to life back at Honeycomb Farm in Hailsham after their four-day ordeal

They are believed to have been left at some point between 6.30pm and 9.30pm.

Sergeant Tom Carter, from the Sussex Police Rural Crime Team, said:

"This has been an extremely distressing time for this family and we recognise the impact animal theft has on victims.

"That is why we take all reports of this nature extremely seriously, and will investigate all reasonable lines of enquiry.

"If you can help with the investigation, please report it to the police."

Anyone who saw anything suspicious around this time, or has any information that could help, is asked to contact Sussex Police online or via 101, quoting serial 300 of 01/07.

Hear all the latest news from across the UK on the hour, every hour, on Greatest Hits Radio on DAB, smartspeaker, at greatesthitsradio.co.uk, and on the Rayo app.