"The people of the New Forest are accustomed to curious goings-on. The woods and heaths of the national park in southern England are the setting for all manner of tales of witches, pixies, cursed souls and rituals, and, even today, are a magnet for those fascinated by the otherworldly. But residents are aghast at the case of a local man who hit the headlines after admitting dumping the carcasses of animals, including black lambs, near churches in and around the forest, apparently targeting Christian worshippers."
"It's a terrible thing to do, said Myra Noyce, one of the livestock owners Benjamin Lewis stole lambs from. It's upset us all, made us feel very uncomfortable. This is a lovely part of the world and to think of someone going around doing something like that is horrible. What was he thinking of? A year ago, livestock began to go missing, and Hampshire and Isle of Wight police received reports of carcasses of sheep and deer being left in and around New Forest churches."
Residents of the New Forest reported carcasses of sheep and deer left near churches and towns. Livestock began to go missing a year ago. Police launched extra patrols and in May arrested local man Benjamin Lewis, who lives in Totton. Lewis admitted five counts of religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress and two theft charges at Southampton crown court on 15 December. The court heard he was motivated by hostility to Christians. Lewis was remanded in custody pending sentencing next year. Neighbors described the acts as upsetting and horrifying. Lewis is known to have an interest in the supernatural, particularly vampires and horror stories.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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