by Danny Boyle
dboyle@thekmgroup.co.uk

Ewe couldn’t make it up!

Standing bemused in a shopping trolley, this kidnapped sheep gets the ride of its life when two baa-rmy pranksters wheel it into a supermarket.

At a time when most people are counting sheep, two young jokers were bundling one into a car from a Meopham farm in the dead of night.

In a bizarre stunt, the youths – condemned as “stupid and irresponsible” by the RSPCA – took it on a 20-mile ride through the north Kent countryside.

Arriving at Asda in Bexleyheath, south east London, at 3am they pushed it into the store in a trolley and took photos before running off with their heads covered.

Shocked staff, who curiously nicknamed the sheep Rob despite it being female, could only think to put it in a disabled toilet while waiting for the RSPCA.

The owners have now been tracked down but Rob cannot be returned until at least Friday because of restrictions on the movement of livestock.
It is now being cared for at a boarding kennel in a secret location.

RSPCA inspector Andrew Kirby, investigating the case, said: “I’ve never come across anything like this before and just hope it isn’t the start of a new craze.
“I can’t imagine how they would have done it – even trying to catch a sheep is difficult enough.

“This stupid, irresponsible stunt would have terrified this poor sheep and caused it great stress by removing it from its flock. Thankfully the sheep appears to be in good physical condition.”

Store manager Joe Lock said: “We were shocked to discover that a poor sheep had been wheeled into our store.
“We hope the culprits hand themselves in.”

It is against the law to cause an animal unnecessary suffering. The maximum sentence is six months in prison or a £5,000 fine.
Anyone with any information about the stunt is asked to phone the RSPCA, in confidence, on 0300 1234 999.