A pony stolen from a stables 11 days ago has been found dead.

The cob, called Misty, was one of three taken from Church Road, Hartley.

Their owner, Wendy Mclaughlin, initially received good news today, when she was told by police they had recovered two of the animals.

But that was shortly followed by the news the third had died.

Mrs McLaughlin, 68, posted about the tragedy on Facebook, sparking an outpouring of sympathy.

She had previously described the theft as devastating and said her granddaughter, whose ponies they were, had been “crying her eyes out”.

Tonight she added: “I want to say a huge thank you to everyone that helped so hard to trace the ponies.

“We were just too late to save Misty - she was still warm when we found her, where they had just dumped her poor body.

“She had four very happy years of her life with her mum - never having left my land or experienced anything other than love.

“Unfortunately the last 11 days which ended in her being killed were the most traumatic that she could ever have endured and she must have been terrified in such dreadful surroundings.

Her torture is now over.”

The theft was discovered at 6.30am on Friday, November 22, but it is believed they were taken between 5.30pm and 6pm the night before.

Witnesses saw a man and a woman load them onto a stock trailer pulled by a dark grey or black Range Rover Sport in the car park of the Royal Oak pub a short distance away in New Ash Green just after 6pm.

Today, police returned the two mares, Bess, 11, and Freya, eight, to their home. They had been found in Shamrock Avenue in Gravesend.

But four-year-old Misty has died.

Anyone with information about the theft should call the force on 01622 604100, quoting reference 46/198687/24.

You can also contact Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555111.