Reward fund to catch pony's killer smashes £500 target

Bobby the Shetland pony was discovered by his heartbroken owner Wendy Redpath on Thursday, lying dead in a field off Cleadon Lane.

The 12-year-old’s body had been mutilated, with his genitals and bottom lip hacked off, stomach slashed and his mane cut off.

The sheer brutality of the killing left our readers shocked and disgusted – with hundreds of people taking to social media to express their horror and to plead for anyone for information to come forward.

Meanwhile a crowdfunding page which had hoped to raise £500 for a reward to help catch Bobby’s killer has reached £1,500.

Laura Hanson posted: “Absolutely barbaric. Heartbreaking. Let’s hope those responsible are found very soon.”

Paul Jordan added: “Disgusting. This person needs caught.

“The fact they’re still out there is scary.”

Kevin Ball wrote: “Someone must know who did this. Do the decent thing and report it to the police. Let’s hope they are caught, named and shamed and the courts hand out a lengthy prison sentence, instead of the usual slap on the wrist for cruelty to animals.”

Both the police and the RSPCA have launched investigations.

Mrs Redpath said: “I still can’t understand why anyone would do this. I’m finding it all really hard.

“I knew the horse community would offer support, but the wider public coming forward and offering money for a reward to catch those responsible, it’s just overwhelming.

“Bobby’s story is being shared on Facebook as everyone is concerned that these people could do it again. No one knows if this was a one-off.”

Anyone who would like to add to the reward total visit www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/BobbyPony.

Anyone with information on the killing is asked to contact police on 101 quoting reference number 1050 03/11/16.