Avon & Somerset Constabulary Rural Crime Alerts

Somerset farmer fined nearly £5k for polluting Fivehead river

A Somerset farmer has been fined and ordered to pay costs totalling nearly £5,000 after silage effluent polluted the Fivehead river close to his farm.

Arson attack causes £100,000 worth of damage to Somerset farm

A deliberate barn fire has caused £100,000 worth of damage in Wiveliscombe, Somerset

Happy tears as owner is reunited with pony stolen eight months ago

The owner of a 16-year-old pony who was stolen last summer said it feels “unreal” to be reunited, eight months later.

Somerset farm ordered to pay out £20,000 after polluting stream

A Somerset farm which polluted a stream after failing to make improvements has been ordered to pay out nearly £20,000.

Cow comes within 20cm of lacerating major arteries after gate injury

Wyvern Farm Vets said the cow had come away with a 'lucky miss'

Two men sentenced to prison after stealing 20 pieces of farm machinery

Two men who were found with 20 pieces of stolen farm machinery have been sentenced to prison amid growing concern over thefts in rural areas.

Farmer foils drug operation after finding £15m of cocaine in feed

A farmer has helped foil a multi-million pound large-scale drug operation after he found kilo-block drug packages within his normal delivery of animal feed.

Hereford and Angus cattle stolen from farm in Somerset

Avon and Somerset Police said beef cattle had been stolen from a farm in Shepton Mallet

Somerset cheese company fined over twenty thousand pounds for third pollution incident

A Somerset cheese-making company has been fined over £23,700 for a third case of causing pollution from its farm.

Livestock rustlers steal more than 50 sheep in Somerset

Livestock rustlers have stolen more than fifty sheep from farmland in Somerset, with police urging anybody with more information to come forward.

Quad bike recovered by Avon and Somerset Rural Affairs Unit

The stolen quad bike was recovered from the River Brue

Tractor towing law broken in Mendips for sprayer and trailer

The Avon and Somerset Police Roads Policing Unit shared their find on Twitter yesterday afternoon as a reminder to farmers to stick to the law.

New constables are planned for the rural crime team, but will not join until autumn

Crime the team investigates ranges from theft of agricultural equipment, from chainsaws to tractors; theft of livestock; poaching and hare coursing; rural cannabis growing; wildlife, hunting, and animal rights crimes; to modern slavery offences.

Man arrested in Bristol after police and RSPCA investigation

A man in Bristol has been arrested on suspicion of baiting badgers and possession of weapons after police found dogs, a crossbow and a machete on a raid.

Man arrested in joint RSPCA and police investigation

A 28-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of badger baiting and weapon offences as part of a joint investigation being carried out by police and the RSPCA.

Ifor Williams horsebox stolen in West Bagborough Taunton

A THIEF who stole a horsebox from a village outside Taunton was caught driving off minutes later on CCTV belonging to the horsebox owner's friends.

Driver arrested as part of crime crackdown on Exmoor roads to tackle thieves and poachers

A driver arrested on Exmoor for failing to stop for police was found with stolen goods and tested positive for drug-driving.

Woman from Brent Knoll banned from keeping cattle

A WOMAN from Somerset has been hit with a court bill of more than £4,600 after pleading guilty to five animal cruelty charges.

Police report a number of poaching incidents on Exmoor

Avon and Somerset Police said: "There have been a number of poaching incidents reported recently around the Dulverton/Hawkridge/Ashwick areas.

Barn fire in Westerleigh on Leigh Lane sees cows moved

A herd of cows has had to be moved because of a barn fire that broke out in south Gloucestershire yesterday afternoon (Wednesday).

Men fined for fishing without licences

Two men fishing without a licence on a Dorset farm have been fined a total of £886 - when the licences would have cost just £6 each.

Body found in search for Freddy missing from Stolford

The family of missing Somerset teenager, Freddy, has been informed that human remains have been found.

The rural area of Somerset where fly-tipping is rife

A rural area of Somerset has seen a spike in the number of fly-tipping incidents in the last year, new statistics have revealed. While other areas of the county have seen the number of cases of dumped rubbish fall, Sedgemoor has seen a nine per cent rise in incidents.

Tractor fire in Halstock Yeovil

Fire crews were called at just before 9pm to reports of a tractor, trailer and mound of silage on fire in Halstock.

Tractor stolen in South Petherton area

The tractor is a blue compact Landlegend Dong Feng.

John Deere tractor stolen from Langport

Police are asking the public to make it 'too hot to handle' by sharing the photo far and wide.

Police appeal to help tackle hare coursing in Somerset

Hare coursing is an illegal activity where dogs are used to chase, catch and kill hares. This is a serious problem in rural areas.

Stillmans abattoir fine for food safety and hygiene breaches

A SLAUGHTER house on the outskirts of Taunton faces a court bill of nearly £50,000 after it was found guilty of breaching food safety and hygiene laws.

Teenager Freddy missing from Stolford farm

A teenager is missing from his family farm in Stolford near Bridgwater and detectives are asking people if they have seen him.

Arson on farms in Avon and Somerset sees barns burn

Avon and Somerset Police have confirmed that the nine cases of arson resulted in barns, hay bales and farm machinery burning.

TYM T290 compact utility tractor stolen but found

Good news this morning (Thursday) for a farmer in Somerset as police have found their stolen tractor.

Animal rights activists claim to have disrupted milk supplies in Bristol

On September 4, AR activists stopped operations in seven UK dairy production sites by locking themselves on to trucks and blocking roads. The Bristol activists who targeted Bridgewater and Muller Foods distribution centre in Gloucester are celebrating victory after discovering gaps and empty shelves in various supermarket’s milk sections, which they claim are a result of their actions.

Evercreech farmer guilty of illegal animal movement

AN elderly Somerset farmer has been ordered to pay more than £11,000 by a court for illegally moving animals from his farm without carrying out the relevant tests.

Animal Rebellion members arrested at Bridgwater dairy

Fifteen people have been arrested after protesting at a dairy plant near Bridgwater.

Animal Rebellion activists restrict UK milk supplies in demand for a ‘plant-based future’

Animal Rebellion activists have cut off the milk supply to the Midlands and South of England following a weekend of protests in UK supermarkets.

Quad bike rider severely injured in Lydeard St Lawrence

The accident took place at the junction of the B3224 and B3188 in Lydeard St Lawrence at around 10.05am on Saturday (August 20).

Barn fire in Clutton in Chew Valley

The barn on a farm in Clutton in the Chew Valley was storing hay and farm machinery.
Fire crews from Bedminster, Temple, Hicks Gate, Paulton and Radstock were called at 3.14pm.

Equestrian items stolen in raid on stable

SEVERAL equestrian items were stolen in a raid on a stable over the weekend.

Barn fire in Ilminster started by campervans on fire

Fire control received multiple reports of the campervans on fire and so mobilised two fire engines from Ilminster and Chard along with a water bowser from Yeovil at just before midday.

Tractor ‘destroyed by fire’ on A30 near Chard

The A30 between Chard and Crewkerne remains partially blocked following the fire, which took place near the Windwhistle Inn.

CCTV image issued after 'brazen' theft of quad bike in Yeovil

Police have issued a CCTV image of two men following the theft of a quad bike in Yeovil.

Farmer fined a second time for polluting River Frome

Michael Aylesbury, a director of Cross Keys Farms Ltd, has been ordered to pay more than £25,000 for polluting the Somerset river.

Barn fire in Winford: Two teenagers arrested for arson

Despite the arrests, police officers are continuing to investigate the fire and are appealing for any witnesses to come forward.

Two tractors catch fire in an hour in region

At 5.10pm the fire service was alerted to a tractor reported to be well alight in a field in Hardington Mandeville.

Pair plead guilty to stealing power tools and bike

Laimutis Beleckas, 21, and 27-year-old Eimantas Zemreta, both of Gravesend in Kent, appeared at Taunton Deane Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday 21 June, both charged with one count of theft from a motor vehicle and one count of theft of a bike.

Farmer ordered to pay out more than £25k after polluting river

A Somerset farmer who is the director of Cross Keys Farms Ltd has been ordered to pay more than £25,000 for polluting the River Frome.

Ifor Williams trailer and more stolen from Stowey farm

A farm in North Somerset has had a trailer and other equipment stolen on the night of June 21.

Police and firemen battle in vain to save Somerset man trapped in tractor accident

A MAN was pronounced dead after emergency services were called to an incident involving a tractor in a “precarious position” in a Somerset village.

Somerset man threatened by gang in aggravated garage burglary

A SOMERSET man was threatened by a gang during an aggravated burglary in the north of the county.

Police hunting road rage thug who attacked two cyclists in Somerset

POLICE are appealing for witnesses to a road rage incident that happened more than a week ago near Axbridge, Somerset.

Somerset farmer left badly shaken after one of his sheep was mauled to death by a dog

Tom Wheeler, who farms near Norton St Philip, found his animal dead on Wellow Lane. He said the ewe had its hind end bitten and chewed while it was still alive.

Countryside Alliance and LACS on trail hunting in Somerset

Today (Friday, May 27), the League Against Cruel Sports (LACS) is set to meet outside County Hall in Taunton to launch a petition which calls on Somerset County Council to end trail hunting on land that it owns and manages.

Mindless vandals cause thousands of pounds of damage at Somerset primary school

Staff arriving at Mendip Green Primary School in Worle, Weston-super-Mare, arrived at work on Monday morning to find that yobs had broken into the early years area used by reception students.

Yeovil man fined for illegal fishing at Coking Farm fishery

Alan Reid, 47, of Westfield Road, Yeovil pleaded guilty to fishing without a licence, leaving rods unattended and failing to provide his name and address when asked to.

Barn fire in Brinkworth near Malmesbury

A barn holding cattle and a diesel tank caught fire on Saturday night (May 14).

A39 West Quantoxhead closed as tractor falls off trailer

Travel Somerset reported that the incident happened between The Avenue (West Quantoxhead) and Frog Street (East Quantoxhead).

Somerset farmer, 70, injured after being struck by a rock thrown by dog walker

A SOMERSET farmer has been hospitalised after he was struck with a rock while working in a field.

Somerset slaughterhouse worker fined £2000 for three animal curelty offences

SOMERSET abattoir worker Andrezej Gutowski was fined £2000 after admitting three animal cruelty offences at Taunton Magistrates.

Cows escape from common and cause havoc in residential areas across Chipping Sodbury and Yate

Dozens of cows have been herded up across a rural town and village near Bristol after escaping from their field and causing havoc in residential areas.

Telehandler stolen in the night from Cheddar

Officers from Avon and Somerset's Rural Affairs Unit ask that anyone with any information about the theft calls them on 101

Lorry stuck on narrow country lane near Wellington in Somerset

Resident Angela Boyd spotted the lorry whilst walking the dog and was "shocked" to see it "wedged" on a lane near Wellington, Somerset.

Barn fire in Leigh as amber wildfire alert issued

Farmers are advised, where possible, to be prepared by making sure that fire breaks are cut and well maintained, with any cut vegetation removed from the site.

Ifor Williams horse box stolen in Wedmore

The box is an Ifor Williams in a maroon/burgundy colour, similar to the photo above which has been shared by police on social media.

Caravan and barn fire near Frome believed to be arson

The fire in the Newbury area was reported at 11.24pm and a pump from Radstock and one from Shepton Mallet were mobilised.

Fatal crash of tractor and motorbike in Norton St Philip

A man has died in a crash near Frome involving a motorbike and a tractor.

Police catch cow casually strolling on main road near Taunton

A number of concerned drivers called police, who attended the incideint on the unlit A358 near the county town.

'Illegal biker' turns abusive at Blackmoor Reserve

The ranger at Blackmoor Reserve, in the Mendip Hills, spoke to the man but felt intimidated by his reaction.

Velcourt Ltd fined for pollution of River Frome tributary

A Somerset-based farming company has been fined for pollution which killed hundreds of fish.

Mile long fire on Exmoor National Park 'started deliberately' according to witnesses

Firefighters from Dulverton Fire Station, South Molton Fire Station, Lynton Fire Station, Tiverton Fire Station, Porlock Fire Station and a water bowser from Barnstaple Fire Station were called.

'Big cat' spotted 'moving through hedgerow' leaves locals in a UK town on alert

A TERRIFYING "big cat" spotted on the streets of Somerset has shocked residents who say the panther-like creature has been at large for years.

Staplegrove slaughterman guilty of cruelty to cows

Gutowski, 53, of Pyrland Fields, Taunton, admitted two counts of failing to spare an animal avoidable pain, distress or suffering at the time of killing.

Farm shed fire destroys machinery in Compton Dundon

A tractor and dumper truck were destroyed when a farm shed caught fire near Somerton yesterday afternoon (March 22).

No ban for speeding motorist on M5 in Somerset

A FARM business owner from Cornwall has kept his licence despite racking up enough points to warrant a driving ban after being caught speeding on the M5 in Somerset.

Theft from paddock in Ash, near Martock

POLICE in South Somerset are appealing to the public to help make these stolen items "too hot to handle".

Witness appeal: Catalytic converter theft in Congresbury

Avon & Somerset Police are appealing for information following a catalytic converter theft in Congresbury.

Jail sentence and criminal behaviour order for Bristol bike thief

Ryan Hack, 21, was sentenced at Bristol Magistrates Court after being convicted of 10 offences committed over a three-month period.

Two Defribrillators Stolen In Shepton Mallet

Sadly, two of our life-saving defibrillators were stolen and one vandalised in #Worle & #SheptonMallet at the weekend. This is completely #unacceptable, and they'll cost a lot to replace.

Have you seen wanted man Scott Brain?

We’re appealing for the public’s help to find a wanted man.

Witness appeal after commercial burglaries in South Bristol and North Somerset

The first occurred at approximately 10.35pm, in High Street, Winford, on Sunday 27 February. The second happened a couple of hours later at about 12.45am, in West Town Road, Backwell.

Fire crews rescue horse from ditch near Burrowbridge

A LOCAL farmer helped out as firefighters from Taunton rescued a large horse stuck in a water-filled dit

Horse trailer theft is on the rise

The change in towing rules has resulted in more new, young trailer drivers amidst a scarcity of horse trailers

Rural Affairs Unit welcomes new sergeant and wildlife officer

We’re delighted to announce two new appointments to the Avon and Somerset Rural Affairs Unit

Tractor fire near Templeton, Tiverton

They were mobilised at 4.46am to reports of the machine on fire on farmland near Templeton.

NSA launches 2022 Sheep Worrying by Dogs survey

The National Sheep Association (NSA) has launched its annual survey to gain an up to date insight on its continued severity and impact on the UK sheep industry.

Somerset farmer fined for second time for polluting watercourse

Stoke St Gregory farmer Ben Hembrow has been ordered to pay £11,000 for polluting a watercourse with slurry in 3 separate incidents for the second time in 5 years.

Two men convicted following investigation into rural thefts

Two men have been convicted of the theft and dishonest handling of property from farms across west Somerset following a lengthy police investigation.

Storm Eunice: Farmers urged to take 'extreme care'

Farmers are being urged to take 'extreme care' as Storm Eunice is set to strike the countryside, bringing with it 100mph hurricane-force winds.

Fly-tipping an 'insurance risk' for farmers despite crack down

It comes after Defra reported that there were 1.13m fly-tipping incidents in England in 2020-21, a rise of 16% on the previous 12 months.

Ewes could lose lambs following dog attack in North Perrott

The pregnant ewes were fortunate to survive the incident on a farm in North Perrott thanks to the intervention of a vet.

More farmers investing in security over rural crime fears

Fly-tipping was once again the top rural crime reported in the survey and, overall, 43% of people said they have been a victim of rural crime in the past 12 months.

'Panther' like 'big cat' spotted in Somerset - Police confirm report of sighting

POLICE confirmed they received eyewitness reports of a cat resembling a "panther" or "puma" in Somerset.

Lambs die in barn fire in Clutton, the Chew Valley

Fire crews were called at 12.40am (Tuesday, May 3) to reports of a barn on fire on Stowey Road in Clutton.

Illegal caravan removed from farmland at Westport

South Somerset District Council’s planning enforcement team were informed in 2018 of a caravan being sited without planning permission on agricultural land in the tiny hamlet of Westport, between Ilminster and Langport, writes Daniel Mumby, Local Democracy Reporter