Three members of a meat theft gang who terrorised farmers by slaughtering flocks of sheep in their fields have been given ‘deterrent’ jail sentences.
Northampton Crown Court heard how the three Romanian men, who lived at the same address in Birmingham, took part in a four-month spree of ‘brutal and gruesome’ sheep killings in Northamptonshire – including the slaughter of nine sheep who were being kept as pets.
Following one of the offences, the court was told how two children aged eight and two, who were accompanied by their mother, stumbled across the remains of a lamb hung on a fence, leaving them screaming in distress.
Robert Iordan, 23, Florin Nutu, 36, and Viorel Manu, 39, were linked to a four-month spree of ‘brutal and gruesome’ offences, killing sheep worth £10,000 across Northamptonshire
Robert Iordan, aged 23, and Florin Nutu, aged 36, were both jailed for four years and four months on Friday by Judge Adrienne Lucking QC, who described the inhumane killing of sheep worth around £10,000 as gruesome and distressing.
Judge Lucking also sentenced Viorel Manu to a custodial sentence of two years and 11 months after hearing that the 39-year-old father-of-nine was involved in only one albeit serious offence.
All three men, previously of Dunsink Road, Aston, Birmingham, appeared in court via a prison videolink, while barristers in the case presented their submissions by a telephone link set up due to the coronavirus crisis.
Opening the case against the men, who admitted conspiracy to steal at previous hearings, prosecutor Adam Pearson told the court there were concerns that stolen meat from sheep recently given medication was unfit for human consumption.
Dunsink Rd, Handsworth, Birmingham, where the three men previously resided
Mr Pearson said Iordan and Nutu were arrested when police stopped their van on the A14 in October after sheep were killed near Welford, Northamptonshire.
Manu was arrested later after fleeing the vehicle, in which police found carcasses, tools, butcher’s knives and a skinning pump.
The court was told one owner of several sheep was in hospital when family members were forced to tell her that her ‘rescue’ pets had been killed, while several farmers had had their businesses badly affected.
In a community impact statement read to the court by Mr Pearson, the National Farmers’ Union’s (NFU) county adviser for Northamptonshire, Harriet Ranson, said farmers had not only lost their animals ‘in a brutal and gruesome’ manner, but had also had to deal with clearing up carcasses, prompting concern for their mental health.
The NFU official stated: ‘In several cases there were repeat victims which resulted in them losing a majority of their flock.
Northampton Crown Court, where Iordan and Nutu were handed four years four months in jail and Manu two years 11 months, appearing via video link due to the coronavirus epidemic
‘At least one farmer’s children were unfortunate enough to find remains. The farming community were also greatly concerned for the people who might be sold this meat.
‘They were also worried about disturbing (the gang) in the act as they were carrying sharp knives.
‘Farmers tell me they hope this case sets a precedent which will have a deterrent effect so they do not have to relive these distressing events in the future.’
Passing sentence, Judge Lucking said: ‘A dedicated police operation was necessary to bring this organised offending to an end.
‘The sheep were stolen from seven different owners. Not all of the sheep were farm livestock, some were in fact pets.
‘On one occasion two very young children were completely traumatised finding their sheep slaughtered and butchered such that they were screaming at the sight.
‘There must be an element of deterrence. The general public are dependent upon farmers to produce meat for food.
‘Those who farm livestock often work on small margins and simply don’t have the manpower to guard their livestock day and night.’
Prior to sentence, one of the men’s defence barristers urged the judge to pass as short a sentence as possible in light of the ‘uncertain times in respect of coronavirus’.