Staffordshire teen with knife obsession locked up for killing pet sheep

Luke Lindsey pleaded guilty at Cannock Magistrates Court to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal. The 18-year-old, who has Asperger Syndrome, moved back to his mother Marieanne's home at Rowley Hill Farm in Stretton, Stafford, just over three weeks before the killing on March 19.

He was sent to a young offenders' institution for 16 weeks by magistrates. Mr John Peel, prosecuting, said Lindsey had an obsession with knives and had threatened to kill sheep and ponies on his mother's farm.

He said: "Luke's mother was so concerned that she had some of her sheep on the farm removed. On the day in question she left Luke alone on the farm between 12 and 1pm and when she returned at 3pm she saw blood by the dog pen and straight away she knew it was one of the sheep that had been killed. She then saw Luke dragging the sheep, which was a family pet, before dousing it in petrol and setting it on fire with a blowtorch which made her feel unsafe.

"She believes the whole thing was planned and it has traumatised her. She thinks he is dangerous and she is in fear of what he might do to people."

Lindsey said he didn't realise it was illegal to kill the sheep and said it had been 'nasty' towards him and had butted him.

In a police interview he said he had told his mother he would kill the animal if it was not taken away. Mr Chris Stapleton, defending, said: "Mr Lindsey has had time to reflect on his actions and he is not proud of himself. He was attacked by the sheep which had pushed him and caused him to fall to the ground. He said nobody was willing to listen to him so he had to take action to protect himself and his five siblings.

"His logic was to dispatch the animal as quickly and painlessly as possible."

Lindsey was banned from owning, keeping, dealing, transporting or participating in keeping animals for life.