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A deer had to be put down after a group of teen boys threw "giant rocks" at the animal, breaking its legs.

The incident, which happened behind the Plympton B&M store, came following complaints from a Coypool furniture store of a group of 12 to 14 year olds verbally abusing staff members.

The group were said to have "ransacked the place" and "destroyed their Christmas decorations".

Local resident Sophia Minchella said she witnessed the attack on the majestic creature at around 4.30pm on Thursday December, 21 and took to social media to warn others of the group of youths.

Hundreds of people shared the post and commented in shock and disgust at what they had read.

The 22-year-old said: "A group of five to seven boys aged between 10 and 14 were in the Plympton area today by the old Imery's site (behind B&M).

"You may know there are lots of wild deer running about here. As a group of deer ran in the road these boys got in the deer's way on purpose and started chucking things at them. One of the deer's fell to the floor.

"The next group of young boys then picked up giant rocks about to throw them at it whilst it laid scared on the floor. Luckily I saw this and shouted at them before anymore damage was done. "

She added: "The boys ran away as quick as they could.

"The RSPCA was called, the deer suffered for three hours before sadly having to be put down. Both of its legs were broken and hips."

Sophia said she had shouted at the boys when she saw what was happening but they ran off before she could take any photos or videos of the group as evidence.

PC Greg Rendle, a Plympton-based officer, confirmed that police were called by the RSPCA to the scene to find a deer on the ground with both legs broken and a vet was called to put the deer to sleep.

He believes the two incidents to be connected and took to social media page Plympton Police in an emotional response to the events in Plympton calling them "vile" and "sickening", while finding the cruelness of the incident "truly upsetting".

PC Rendle claimed that he had seen a rise in anti-social behaviour in the area around Coypool Retail Park.

He posted: "I am aware of the hundreds of comments on social media in relation to the sickening and vile act that occurred yesterday afternoon on Coypool Road near to B & M stores.

(Image: hang Peng/LightRocket via Getty Images)

"Not a great deal surprises me as a police officer but to think that some youths have deliberately thrown rocks at a helpless deer causing such catastrophic injuries is truly upsetting. Very sadly the deer had to be put to sleep by a vet.

"I am extremely conscious that this has created a great deal of interest but I respectfully request that if anyone has information or indeed knows who is responsible for this act that they contact me on 101 or email 101@dc.police.uk.

"The previous evening, a furniture store at Coypool reported anti-social behaviour and damage to the store from a group of boys between the ages of 12 to 14."

One Plympton resident commented on the post saying that the brutality of the incident made her feel ill.

"This made me feel physically sick," she said. "I can't understand why someone would do this."

The previous day, SCS furniture store at Coypool had complained of an incident involving a group of teen boys.

The manager of the store spoke of what he witnessed, he said: "For the last week or two there have been a group of teens coming into the store, swearing at my staff while customers are in the store and a couple of night ago they attempted to throw a McDonald's meal at me.

"They threw it at my colleague while he was serving a customer so we asked them to leave the store and they ran out," the manager said.

"But I then saw them out the back in our car park and I said 'lads, what are you doing?'

"The ring-leader of the group stuck his middle finger up at me and called me a c***. Then last night they came back again and kicked down our Christmas tree, sending it flying across the store."

The manager of the SCS store, who wished not to be named, said he was shopping with his son and stopped for a McDonald's breakfast when he saw the same teen boys enter the fast food restaruant.

"I gave them eye contact but didn't say anything. It's the same group of lads for sure."

He added: "They've been causing havoc in B&M and McDonald's for weeks - they just seem to have no respect."

Devon and Cornwall police confirmed to The Herald that they were called at 10.30am on December 21 to reports of criminal damage in a shop in Plymouth.

A spokesperson for the police said: "A group of young males appear to have entered the store at around 7.30pm on Wednesday 20 December and damaged items of property."

Anyone with information is asked to contact police via 101@dc.police.uk or by calling 101 quoting crime reference CR/110418/17.

Information can also be passed anonymously to the independent charity Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111 or reporting online at www.crimestoppers-uk.org.