Owner of alpacas shot dead in South Cambridgeshire village says: ‘It was carnage… like an execution’

The owner of four alpacas that were shot in the head “like an execution” and a sheep that was killed by dogs in a South Cambridgeshire village has told of her shock.

Dawn French said their six-acre field in East Hatley, near Gamlingay, looked like “a massacre” after the animals were found scattered early on Sunday morning (23 March).

It is believed the four alpacas were shot with a .22 or higher calibre rifle.

Dawn said a ewe was “massacred by dogs” and a fifth alpaca received a gunshot wound to its face, but survived, in the horrific incident between 6pm on Saturday and 8.30am on Sunday..

“It looked like a murder scene when we arrived. The alpacas had all been shot in the head like an execution, it was absolute carnage,” she said. “It’s something I would never want to see ever again and wouldn’t wish on my worst enemy.”

Dawn and her husband Brian have a smallholding with sheep, chickens and geese.

Their overflow field had six alpacas and two sheep. One of the sheep was lying badly injured in a ditch and later had to be put to sleep. The other sheep was hiding in a hedge.

“We had a call on Sunday telling us to quickly get to the field and that it wasn’t a pretty sight,” said Dawn.

“We found four alpacas scattered around the field and they all had horrific head injuries. Another alpaca, our oldest, Pheobe, had a surface wound where she was shot in the face. She has survived but her face is paralysed and she is now on strong painkillers.

“There appeared to have been a dog in the field as there were dog footprints everywhere and sheep’s fleece on the ground where it appeared to have pulled the sheep.

“It all seems completely unreal, like something from a movie. We’ve had scenes of crime here investigating and the police are very concerned because a gun was used.”

Dawn said all the alpacas had been bred by them and were between eight and 12 years old.

“They were our pets, we love animals and we used to breed the alpacas and when they were younger we’d sell their fleeces,” she said.

“No one has any idea what the motive was. You can’t see the field from the road. One person said perhaps they were mistaken for deer at night as we do get deer stalkers. Maybe it’s the latest sick sport. It’s definitely not for food as they left the bodies behind.”

Cambridgeshire police have carried out house-to-house enquiries.

Sgt Tom Nuttall, from the rural crime action team, said: “This was a highly distressing crime that has caused death and serious injury to defenceless animals. I would encourage anyone who knows anything about this offence to get in touch as soon as possible.”

Report any information at cambs.police.uk or call 101 quoting 35/20844/25. Or call Crimestoppers on 0800 555111.