A SHEEP was illegally slaughtered in a field in Denbighshire, police have said.

North Wales Police's Rural Crime team said the incident occurred in a field in Clawddnewydd, on the outskirts of Clogaenog. 

A spokesperson said: "We ended the week last week by attending a report of a sheep being illegally slaughtered and butchered for meat. Lamb’s skin was found discarded in a field.

"The incident is believed to have happened sometime during the week."

Anyone with information is urged to contact police 101, using reference B184165.

It comes following a report that five sheep missing from a field in Hafon Onnen, Rhosgoch, Anglesey are also believed to have been killed and butchered for meat after lamb’s skin was found discarded on December 5.

PCSO Iwan Owen of the Rural Crime Team said another report was also made in Betws y Coed last month.

He said: “Again, the skin appears to have been cut in a straight line with a knife, and doesn’t look like an attack by another animal.

“Despite the criminality aspect of it, there’s a public health issue here too, which is a concern.

“Farmers separate their flocks – those for going into the food chain and those going into the breading programme.

“When they medicate those animals, they will separate them and make sure medicated animals do not go into the food chain because some inoculations can make the meat unsuitable for human consumption.

“If you are offered cheap meat, decline, and let us know.”