A FARMER has told of his dismay after thugs launched a mindless attack on his pigs.

The yobs killed a piglet and threw it at a tree, axed the hindquarters of a sow, stole another piglet and attacked several others near Brotton, east Cleveland sometime between midnight and noon today (Tuesday , December 9).

Part-time farmer Darren Wyres, 45, who farms animals as a hobby, described the yobs as “crazy.”

Mr Wyres, who works at nearby Boulby Potash Mine, said the pigs lived free range just off the A174 Brotton bypass.

He did not notice the 6ins to 10ins axe wound in the mother sow at first, but when he did, he noticed some of the three-week old piglets appeared to have been beaten. One was missing but will not survive without its mother.

Mr Wyres’ son, Connaugh, 18, later noticed one of the piglets had been killed and thrown into a tree “with its head smashed in.”

Mr Wyres said: “I just don’t know why they would do such a thing, they’re crackers. Everyone I’ve told is upset. I just don’t know why they have done it. You can see the piglets bruised.”

Investigating officer, PC Steven Woodacre, said: “This is a heartless act of cruelty towards defenceless animals in their own environment. A sow and her two piglets were attacked with a weapon, believed to be an axe. One suffered severe head injuries and was sadly killed.

“The enclosure itself was ankle deep in wet mud and so the suspect will have been left covered in mud and the piglet that was stolen will have squealed loudly throughout the incident. We would appeal for anyone with information to contact police.”

Anyone with information regarding the suspect or the whereabouts of the stolen piglet is asked to contact PC Steven Woodacre at Cleveland Police on 101 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800-555-111.