A FARM has been the repeated target of criminals who have killed a £1,000 prize ram and set fire to vehicles.

William Wardman, of Thrushwood Farm in Yearby Bank, Redcar, believes that the farm is being targeted in retaliation to his efforts in stopping poachers from killing hare and deer on his land.

In the latest incident last Friday night, three cars were set on fire at the farm and the blaze then spread to a nearby stockpile of straw bales, causing extensive damage.

Mr Wardman said the arson was the latest in a line on incidents at the farm which he believes is in response to him erecting fencing to try and stop poachers and off-road bikers entering his land.

He said: “We have been having a lot of trouble with off-road vehicles chasing hares and deer.

“They have virtually wiped out our deer and hare population and we have spent a lot of time getting fencing up and reinforcing boundaries.

“Ever since then it has been pretty rough here.”

Mr Wardman said that he found his prize pedigree ram, worth £1,000, dead in a field on the same night that a dog was found with a nail through its skull in Redcar last Wednesday.

He said the ram, which he described as quiet and happy to approach humans for food, had been fatally hit over the head.

In addition to the arson and ram killing, Mr Wardman said he has also had 11 sheep stolen from his farm in recent weeks.

“It is all these lads coming over on stolen quad bikes from Eston and Normanby and so on,” he said.

“They are a law unto themselves.”

He added that the irony of them setting fire to the vehicles was that they were not cars owned by the farm but by private visitors.

Police are investigating the incidents and have appealed for witnesses to the suspected arson attack which happened between 5.50pm and 6.50pm on October 21.

A Cleveland Police spokesman said: “Around 30 minutes before the incident, it is believed there were two men riding off-road style motor bikes.

“Both were wearing white helmets and police would like to speak with these men as they may be able to assist with enquiries.”

  • Anyone with information can contact PC Tom Bradley of Cleveland Police on 101, or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.