Therapy farm near Scunthorpe left reeling after sheep and turkeys stolen

Therapy farm near Scunthorpe left reeling after sheep and turkeys stolen An animal therapy farm near Messingham has been left distressed after several animals were reportedly stolen over the course of one night. Julia Stewart, who runs Farmyard Friends CIC near Scunthorpe, said eight sheep and four turkeys were taken from the site between Sunday 5 April and Monday 6 April. Humberside Police confirmed it is investigating the reported theft and said officers from its Rural Task Force are carrying out enquiries. In a social media post published after the incident, Stewart said she was heartbroken by the animals' disappearance. She described them as friendly, trusting and accustomed to regular human contact, adding that she feared for their welfare. She also said the loss had caused significant upset because the animals were individually known to her. The Lincoln Post has not independently verified Stewart's account on social media, including the number of animals she said were taken or her description of the circumstances at the farm. Farmyard Friends CIC has been operating for the past two years in the Scunthorpe area and describes itself as an animal therapy farm. The site keeps a variety of animals, including pigs, horses and donkeys, and is run as a community interest company. Stewart said the reported theft came at a particularly difficult time for the farm. According to her social media post, the site had recently suffered storm damage, with shelters affected and one structure reportedly blown onto a road. She said the farm had been trying to recover from that disruption before the animals went missing. These claims have not been independently verified by The Lincoln Post. Humberside Police said a number of sheep and turkeys were reported stolen from a farm in North Lincolnshire and that investigations are continuing to establish exactly what happened. Officers have not released any information about possible suspects or how the animals may have been removed from the site. The force is now appealing for anyone who may have seen suspicious activity in the area around the relevant dates to come forward. Police have also asked people to check any CCTV, dashcam or doorbell footage that may help officers trace movements near the farm between 5 April and 6 April. The investigation is being handled by Humberside Police, with support from its Rural Task Force, which deals with crime affecting farming communities and rural areas. Anyone with information about the reported theft is being urged to contact Humberside Police. Officers have said details such as footage, sightings of vehicles, or unusual activity near Messingham during the period in question could assist enquiries. People contacting the force are advised to quote any relevant incident details if available. For Stewart and the farm, the incident has added to an already difficult period and left fresh concern over the fate of animals she says were used to care and human interaction.