A sheep has been found stabbed to death with a cross made of hay placed next to it in the New Forest where a number of animal attacks apparently linked to the occult have been carried out.
The ewe was found next to a broken pitchfork in Kewlake Lane, Cadnam, Hampshire, on January 2.
The incident comes after a sheep and two cows were attacked as well as Satanic symbols painted on the door of St Peter's Church in Bramshaw, in November.
Wendy Maughan, who owned the sheep in the latest incident, told the Southern Daily Echo: "I'm extremely saddened that we seem to live in a society where someone gets pleasure by attacking and stabbing to death innocent, non-aggressive animals."
Neighbour Andrew Parry-Norton also told the local newspaper: "A broken pitchfork had been placed on the sheep's body, along with a cross made of hay and straw. It gave me the creeps."
Hampshire police are investigating the death and looking at any possible links to other incidents in the area.
In the earlier incidents, a dead ewe which had suffered a puncture wound to its side was found in Penn Common Road, Bramshaw, on November 19.
A local resident found the sheep with a pentagram painted on its side, a star on its face as well as an inverted cross and the number 666 which is linked to the devil.
And on November 20 the graffiti of an inverted cross and the number 666 was found on the church door.
