Wallabies decapitated at animal sanctuary

Police have been called in after two wallabies were found beheaded at an animal sanctuary in north-east England.

The animals' owner, Clifford Spedding, said he believed the act was linked to a series of suspicious incidents at the sanctuary near Loftus, Cleveland, he has run for more than 20 years.

Rare Shell ducks, which are native to Australia, were taken from the sanctuary last week, and Mr Spedding also discovered that someone had tried to set the site ablaze. Sheep had been killed with an axe at a farm in nearby Guisboroughwithin the past fortnight, he said.

Mr Spedding suggested the latest attacks might be connected to devil worshipping because the heads of the two animals were removed and taken away. "I tried to make myself believe that an animal was responsible but I knew it was not. It just wouldn't have been so bad if a dog did it.

"It could be some kind of devil worship, I just don't know," he said.

Mr Spedding said he intended to tighten security at the sanctuary to protect the remaining animals, which include skunks and llamas.

Police Constable Eddie O'Hara of Cleveland Constabulary said the incident was "a despicable and cruel attack which is beyond belief".