'They are family': Farmers reunited with baby goats after being stolen

  • ITV News Meridian's James Dunham spoke to the family about how it feels to be reunited with the baby goats.

Three pygmy goats, stolen from a Sussex farm, have been reunited with their owners.

The baby goats were reported stolen on Monday (1 July), from Honeycomb Farm after their secure enclosure was forced open.

Police were called after the incident, reported to have taken place sometime between 4pm on 30 June and 6am on 1 July at the farm in Hailsham.

  • WATCH: Three baby pygmy goats have been returned after being stolen from a farm

A few days later, on Thursday night (4 July), the young trio of female goats were found abandoned, in a field off Stonehurst Lane in Uckfield - believed to have been left there between 6.30pm and 9.30pm.

Their ear tags had been removed, which had caused minor injuries, but they were otherwise unharmed.

The goats, named Jasmine, Primrose and Poppy, are around four to five months old, and are being raised by the farm owner's 6-year-old daughter.

Honeycomb Farm is owned by Paul and Atonia Koc, and their daughter Rae is a young farmer. Credit: ITV News Meridian

Speaking to ITV News Meridian, the young farmer, Rae, said she was "so sad" when the goats were taken but was "so excited when they were returned."

Farm owner, Antonia Koc said: “We were there when they were born, and we’ve looked after them every day since then. They are part of our family."

Farm owner, Paul Koc said: “We want to thank everyone who shared on social media, the press who broadcast the story and Sussex Police for their work on the investigation.“

"We’re so pleased they have been returned, it means so much to us and especially my daughter.“

"We now want to find out who the culprits are, so this doesn’t happen to anyone else.”

Police officers reunite the three baby goats with their owner. Credit: Sussex Police

Sgt Tom Carter, from the Sussex Police Rural Crime Team, said: “This has been an extremely distressing time for this family and we recognise the impact animal theft has on victims.“

"That is why we take all reports of this nature extremely seriously, and will investigate all reasonable lines of enquiry.“

Anyone who saw anything suspicious around this time, or has any information that could help, is asked to contact police online or via 101.

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