Joyriders cause havoc for Hereford cider farmer

A Herefordshire farm has been hit again by rural crime, after a spate of vandalism.

Knights Cider farm, in Storridge, near Malvern, was targeted on Sunday (9 June), when two tractors were taken by joyriders in the early hours of the morning.

See also: Farm bunds fend off rural criminals

The perpetrators caused extensive damage to the tractors and to a number of 30-year-old cider apple trees, some of which were uprooted.

Later that evening, one of the tractors was taken again.   

“We don’t know how they got them started because they didn’t have the keys in,” Keith Knight, 81, of Knights Cider said.

“A member of the public walking their dog on Sunday saw the tractors abandoned in the orchard and came to tell us.

“The tractors were being used to carry out essential work and that has had to be delayed. It must have caused damage of £10,000.”

The same farm was targeted earlier this year, when local youths were found chasing pregnant ewes around a field. One of the sheep subsequently died.

West Mercia Police is investigating the incident and is asking anyone with information to dial 101, quoting incident number 171s/090619.

‘Spy in sky’ aims to tackle rural crime

From left: NFU Chippenham chairman Nick Bush, NFU Wiltshire chairman Mark Jeffery, head of heritage crime strategy for Historic England Mark Harrison, rural crime officer PC Marc Jackson, Supt Phil Staynings ,and rural crime officer PC Emily Thomas with the new drone.

Wiltshire Police’s Rural Crime team has acquired a new drone as part of its response to an increase in rural crime.

Funded by the NFU and Historic England, the Mavic 2 Drone aims to catch footage of crooks on farmland. It will be used when incidents are unfolding and police are unable to reach the scene immediately.

Last year, the NFU Mutual annual rural crime report found that rural crime in Wiltshire increased by 50%.

Force operations superintendent Phil Staynings said: “The drone is going to really help our officers disrupt the criminals that plague our farms and rural businesses, such as hare coursers.

“The message is clear – rural crime will not be tolerated in Wiltshire.”