'Barbaric' sheep killings left Northamptonshire farmers 'living in fear for months', says union

Northamptonshire's farmers were 'living in fear' of waking up to find they had become the latest victims of East Midlands' rogue sheep slaughters last year, a union has said.

In a four-month spree in 2019, hundreds of sheep across the county were illegally butchered in their fields for their meat in overnight attacks.

On Friday last week (March 27), three men - Robert Iordan, 23, Florin Nutu, 35 and Voirel Manu, 38 - were jailed for the conspiracy to slaughter nearly 120 sheep.

But the court also heard how the killings took its toll on the county's farming communities, who had to wake up every day in fear they had become the latest victims.

Harriet Ranson of the National Farmers Union said: "These crimes were horrific, barbaric and unprecedented and had the whole livestock farming community in Northamptonshire and neighbouring counties living in fear that they would be next for months on end."

Northampton Crown Court heard last week how victimised farmers were left to discover what had happened to their livestock the morning after the attacks.

In every case, the sheep were butchered for their meat and anything unwanted was left strewn across fields. Discarded fleeces were draped across gates. Grass was left covered in blood and offal.

Many sheep were valuable, hand-reared livestock for their farmers who lost thousands of pounds at a time - but nearly 20 of the sheep were simply much-loved pets who were never meant to be slaughtered.

A statement from a representative of the National Farmers Union read out at Northampton Crown Court last week said: "I can describe a cumulative negative impact on our rural sheep rearing community.

"The rural community of Northamptonshire were very concerned about the very real risk of disturbing these men in the act as they were carrying sharp knives.

"For farmers to lose their animals in such gruesome, brutal manner was distressing. But to add insult to injury they almost always also had to deal with the removal of their entrails.

"The mental health of farmers is of great concern for us... It has had a considerable strain on the community of Northamptonshire and is something we hope to never see again."

It took the combined effort of dedicated multi-force police operation - Operation Stock - to catch the men.

Judge Lucking sentenced Iordan and Nutu to four years and four months in prison each. Manu was handed a sentence of two years and 11 months.

Harriet Ranson of the NFU said: "It is fantastic to see the courts treating these appalling crimes with the seriousness they deserve and handing down suitably lengthy prison terms to these dangerous men.

“This case really highlights how important local information from farmers, the NFU and the public is in helping to bring offenders before the courts.

“We’d like to thank Northamptonshire Police, their rural crime team and the police and crime commissioner for their relentless pursuit of these criminals and we hope this case sends out a clear message to anyone planning to do something similar – you will get caught and you will get punished.”

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