A north-east farmer has issued a renewed appeal for the return of his flock of pedigree ewes that were potentially worth £90,000 – and the conviction of the rustler who took them.
Rory Gregor’s 31 pregnant Beltex sheep were taken from Cairnton Farm in Kemnay in March 2015, causing him to lose out on thousands of pounds.
He previously offered £5,000 to anyone who can help him get any of his sheep back and provide information that could lead to the perpetrator getting convicted.
And yesterday, he said his offer still stood two years on – after having his hopes raised by the news police had charged a man in connection with other rural thefts in the area.
On Thursday, police revealed they had charged a 29-year-old from Alford with stealing sheep dogs, cattle and farm machinery from farms around the Huntly, Lumphanan, Kinellar and Monymusk areas in January and July last year.
The total value of the thefts is around £80,000.
And last night, Mr Gregor said he was hopeful the arrest meant police may eventually catch whoever stole his sheep.
The 25-year-old said: “It was a massive financial loss, I’ve still not recovered from it.
“There’s not a hope in hell that the sheep will all be alive still. But if I could get some of them back and evidence that could lead to a prosecution, the reward money would be there.
“I’m asking the public for any information they might have about it.”
Mr Gregor discovered his sheep were missing when he went to feed them in their field three miles from his Aberdeenshire home.
He said each animal was worth at least between £500 and £1,000, though he sold one of the Beltex sheep for more than £2,000 in 2014.
All the ewes were due to lamb days after they were captured. Mr Gregor estimated he had been left more than £30,000 out of pocket – but the potential value of the expected lambs would more than double that figure.
Police believe a 4×4 vehicle with a trailer may have been used in the theft.
The sheep were taken from a field north of the B993 Port Elphinstone to Monymusk road, near Kemnay Driving Range.
Mr Gregor believes the rustler must have staked out the field before pouncing in the night. The animals had distinctive blue numbers ranging between 12 and 72 on their backs.