A Dorset farmer has told of his anger and how his livelihood is affected after his animals were stolen.

The farmer has shared his story to raise awareness of rural crime - to help people understand how it affects people who live and work in the countryside.

Dorset Police's Rural Crime Team encouraged the farmer to give his side of the story as it's a side that's rarely heard.

The person said they were a sheep farmer doing 13-14 hour days and a 'proud member of the farming community' which helps to feed Britain.

The farmer said: "Whilst I love what I do, I have had my challenges. Unfortunately, I have been a victim to livestock theft on a number of occasions. How does that make me feel? Angry to tell you the truth. When you spend a good portion of your life rearing livestock, to have them stolen feels personal. I get what I put into this job and it's part of everything I am.

"Sometimes people don’t quite understand rural crime though, especially those not involved in the agricultural sector.

"The last time I had sheep stolen the police put out a public appeal. I read some of the comments from users on social media and it shocked me. That’s why it's so great to be able to highlight ‘our side’ of the story.

"One of the comments suggested the crime hadn’t happened and that this was just an insurance claim because the offence time frame was wide.

"I think they didn’t realise that whilst I count my sheep on a regular basis, I can't count them everyday. If you owned hundreds of sheep in a field, would you notice 20 missing without counting straight away?"

The farmer added: "People mention about investing in crime prevention and whilst this is so important I think people need to understand how this is difficult for farmers.

"The idea that a farmhouse is situated in the middle of its ground is not always a reality. Farmers can have fields dotted in multiple areas because that’s what they have to work with. That means watching over it can be difficult but likewise securing all the access points to stop vehicle access can be both costly and difficult to achieve, especially if you are a tenant farmer and the land you are investing in is not yours.

"I can strive for strong perimeter fencing - what I can't do is turn our fields into a fortress. Not only does ease of access have to be important for farm vehicles, but it's also important to keep bridleways and footpaths open so others can enjoy the countryside."

The farmer said whilst the full extent of rural crime was known yet, they felt it was important to share stories and talk about it.

"It’s important people understand. We need to report the issues to police. When we understand it, we can tackle it.”

  • Call 999 for a crime in progress
  • To report something suspicious or non urgent happening at the time ring 101
  • To report non emergency matters email 101@dorset.pnn.police.uk or visit Dorset Polices website.
  • Want specialist advice on how to protect your rural business or property? Email ruralcrimeteam@dorset.pnn.police.uk