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Animals killed in Widdrington

Northumbria Police

20 April 2011


Police are appealing for information after a number of hens and a duck were killed at an allotment in Widdrington.
In two separate incidents over the space of two days 17 hens and a duck have been shot with what police believe to be an air weapon.
Between 8pm Sunday, April 17, and 7.50am Monday, April 18, the offenders have approached the rear garden of a house in Margaret Street, climbed onto a fence and fired the air weapon at the birds that were being kept in an allotment area.
14 hens and a duck were killed by the shots and a hen and a duck were also left injured.
Then in the early hours of Tuesday, April 19, offenders returned and shot and killed three hens and stole a duck.
Morpeth Acting Inspector Dave Simpson said: "This is an extremely cruel and distressing incident where whoever is responsible has gone to quite an effort to climb onto the garden fence and specifically aim and shoot at the birds.
"We believe they were all shot by an air weapon and I'd appeal for anyone who lives in the Margaret Street area, or who may have been in the area Monday or Tuesday night, and who may have seen anyone carrying an air weapon or anyone acting suspiciously to get in touch as soon as possible."
Police are appealing for anyone for anyone with any information into the incident to contact them on 03456 043 043 ext 69191.