Gate-crashers came back to kill my geese, farmer claims
PARTY gate-crashers ‘rounded up’ a farm owner’s geese and killed them after being told to leave the property, he has claimed.
Jon Skillet, who owns a farm in Ruette des Pelleys, St Peter’s, has reported the incident to Guernsey Police and the States Vet.
The force has confirmed that investigations are ongoing, but no arrests have been made.
‘My two sons had a gathering of friends there on Saturday night,’ said Mr Skillet. ‘I was at Bruce Russell [for the Freewheeler Festival] and I turned up at about 11pm. I was a little concerned that a lot of people had turned up uninvited.
‘After three skirmishes broke out, I told them to go home, in stronger terms than that, and they dispersed.’
Mr Skillet said he left the farm at around 2.15am. However, he was later contacted by his sons, who said that two of the gate-crashers had returned at around 5 to 6am.
‘They were heard to say “let’s go hunting” and started rounding up the geese.
‘There were four adults and two babies. They decided to shoot two of the adults and possibly one of the babies as well, because it has disappeared.
‘It looked like they had stamped on the head of one of the geese, as they have made a hell of a mess of them.’
Mr Skillet said he had an air rifle in the building. However, this had been locked when he left and there were no pellets in it.
After his sons told him about the incident, he contacted the GSPCA and then the Guernsey Police
‘I understand the States Vet is doing an autopsy on them,’ he said of the geese.
‘For someone to go up there and do something like this, I don’t understand. Why they would want to harm innocent animals?
‘If they get away with it, they may well do it again with someone else.’
Duty Inspector Jason Savident confirmed the matter had been reported to the police.
‘It is under investigation but no arrests have been made yet. Any information people may have about the incident will be appreciated,’ he said.
n Anyone with information should contact Guernsey Police on 725111 and ask for PC 82 Le Page or Crimestoppers, anonymously on 0800 555 111.