AN animal sanctuary owner says the attacker who broke into a baby wallaby's compound and killed it is 'sick'.

Clifford Spedding discovered the torso of the animal, which was less than a year old, last Thursday morning at his Hope Animal Sanctuary in Loftus. The albino animal's head was missing.

Days before Mr Spedding had found the body of the wallaby's four-year-old mother in the same compound and assumed it had died naturally.

But now he has called in police and RSPCA officers to investigate the two deaths.

"When the first one died I just thought it was of natural causes and buried it," he said.

"With the second one I thought a dog had got in but I took it down to the vet and he said 'no, its head has been hacked off'. Now I wonder if there is a connection.

"I've no idea why anyone would do it - it's just such a shock.

"There's a six-foot high fence around the compound which the person must have climbed over, although we heard nothing. I'm now going to have to get some better security."

Mr Spedding, 42, has run his award-winning rescue centre for 20 years, caring for animals from dogs and cats to seagulls and llamas. He took in his first wallaby nine years ago when its owner could no longer handle it.

That wallaby died of old age but he bought two more, which bred, leaving him with a total of six - until last week.

"They're just like a small kangaroo and are really popular with the kids who come down in the summer to see them," he said. "I just can't believe what has happened - it's sick."

Two weeks ago thieves made off with three rare Australian ducks from the sanctuary.

PC Eddie O'Hara, of Loftus Community Policing Team, said officers had stepped up patrols in the area.

"We don't think any of the crimes are connected to travelling criminals - it will be somebody local.

"The sanctuary is near a wooded area and Clifford has suffered over the years with youths.

"He puts a lot of work into that place - it's his life. This latest attack is just a sickener."

An RSPCA spokeswoman said she had never heard of a similar attack on a wallaby.

She said: "Unfortunately no matter how much you hear about animal cruelty there are still things that can surprise you and sicken you. This is an appalling crime."

Anyone with information on the attacks should call PC O'Hara on (0773) 6622 727.

Anyone interested in making a donation to the sanctuary can call Mr Spedding on (07957) 472659 or contact the centre at 1 Whitecliffe Cottage, Loftus, TS13 4AN.