Woman sentenced after officers recover stolen lamb wearing nappy in Dorset
Louise Elizabeth Murguia has been sentenced to a 12-month community order.
Last updated 5th Apr 2025
A woman has appeared in court after rural crime officers recovered a stolen lamb that had been subjected to unnecessary suffering.
Officers responded to reports from a farmer in the Sturminster Newton area that one of his lambs had been stolen last year in March.
Further information was received the following month indicating the stolen lamb had been taken by a woman and that she was keeping it at her address.
The next day, officers attended the address of 49-year-old local woman Louise Elizabeth Murguia, where they located the lamb, which was found to be wearing a nappy.
Also in the address were three Collie-type dogs.
The defendant was arrested and the lamb was taken to a vets who confirmed that the lamb was showing signs of malnutrition.
It also appeared that efforts had been made to shave an identification number on its side, apparently using shampoo.
The woman was subsequently charged with theft and causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and the lamb was returned to the farmer.
Murguia appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court on Tuesday (1st April 2025) and was sentenced to a 12-month community order with an alcohol treatment requirement and rehabilitation activity requirement.
She was also made the subject of an order preventing her from keeping or owning sheep for an indefinite period.
Sergeant Natalie Skinner, of Dorset Police’s Rural Crime Team, said: “We recognise the impact thefts of livestock have on our local farming community and it was also distressing to learn of the maltreatment this animal faced following the theft.
“Thanks to the response from our officers, we were able to hold this defendant to account for her behaviour and return the lamb to the grateful farmer.”