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A farmer says he feels sorry for the thieves who stole 21 sheep and a calf from his farm near Ammanford.

It’s the 12th time in the past 18 months that Phillip Morgan has had livestock or machinery taken by thieves.

The 74 year old said he couldn’t sleep for worrying when the next attack might happen.

“It’s breaking us. Nothing is safe anymore,” he said.

But he added: “I feel sorry for them that they’ve got to do this sort of thing. They’re professionals, they don’t worry about people.”

In the latest incident, on August 18, the thieves stole two rams worth £500 each and 19 sheep.

The previous week thieves stole a calf worth around £400.

The first Mr Morgan knew about the theft was when he went to check the field in the morning and found that thieves had taken the hinges off the gate and got into the field.

“I went down there on the Saturday morning and I could have cried,” he said.

“It’s very stressful. It affects our sleep, it affects our relationships.”

(Image: Adrian White)

But Mr Morgan, who has 300 ewes on his 80 acre farm, is no stranger to rural crime.

In 2003, when he was living on a different farm, he had 100 sheep stolen in a single theft.

But it is the succession of thefts over the past year and a half that has really taken its toll.

Last November the Morgans had 24 sheep stolen from the same field, just three days after they had been bought.

The thieves had even left behind a pair of scissors they had used to cut out the tags from the sheeps’ ears.

The field where the sheep were stolen is close to a roundabout on the M4.

Over the months thieves have also taken two quad bikes and a flat trailer, and three goats were stolen in January.

Mr Morgan said the farm has lost £20,000 through the various thefts. They have no insurance on the livestock because the premiums are so high.

Mr Morgan, who was brought up on a farm, said that despite the thefts he would not give up his way of life.

“I’ve had cancer, I had 12 operations, but I’ve always been an active person, I would never give up anything,” he said.

Sheep rustling on the rise

(Image: PA)

Rural crime is estimated to have cost £1.3m in Wales last year, according to the latest figures from NFU Mutual.

Although that figure is down slightly on the previous year, sheep rustling has actually increased with the losses from thefts rising by £100,000 over 2015.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that it was investigating the theft.

In a statement the force said: “Dyfed-Powys Police is investigating after sheep and a calf were stolen from a farm near Ammanford.

“A call was received reporting that 21 sheep and a calf had been taken from a field in the Llanedi area, overnight on Friday, August 18.

“A calf was also reported stolen the previous week.”

PC Paul Lakin said: “These kinds of theft have both a financial and emotional impact on farmers, and we are appealing for anyone with information about this incident to get in touch so we can fully investigate the circumstances.

“Livestock thefts, in particular theft of sheep, provide for challenging investigations. Forensic opportunities in livestock investigation can be very limited. We therefore rely on people to come forward with information that could lead us to the suspects.

“The people involved must have knowledge and experience of handling livestock, the means to transport them and, if planning to sell them on, knowledge of the markets.”

Dyfed-Powys Police are appealing for anyone with information about the theft or who saw unknown vehicles or people in the area to report it to Ammanford Police Station, or by calling 101. Alternatively, you can phone Crimestoppers on 0800 555111. If you are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired, text the non-emergency number on 07811 311908.