£1,000 reward after horse attack
A SICKENING attack on a horse has prompted animal lovers to offer rewards worth more than £1,000 to help police catch the culprits.
Former racehorse Pilgrim had to be destroyed by vets after suffering severe facial injuries in his isolated stable in Billingborough Fen on Sunday, February 11.
After the attack was reported in last week's Mercury, three readers were so appalled they decided to reach into their own pockets to help bring the perpetrators to justice.
A man from Langtoft and a couple from Hubberts Bridge, near Boston, contacted Lincolnshire Police this week to offer two rewards worth 500.
All three say they want to keep their identities a secret, but the Langtoft man, himself a horse-owner, explained to the Mercury why he was providing his reward.
He said: "I was utterly disgusted to read about this horrendous attack. I can't imagine what the young lady who owned the horse could have gone through to find her animal in that terrible state.
"You can't get any lower than whoever it was that did this. They're sick and you can't describe them any other way.
"I'd like nothing better than to see the culprits locked up for three or four years. Hopefully someone out there knows what they've done or has heard them bragging about their crime.
"Either way, if they can help police prosecute the idiots responsible for this then they'll get their reward."
He added that if the reward is not taken up, he will donate his 500 to Pilgrim's owner, Kylie Tidwell, to help her buy a new horse.
The gesture is just part of a wave of goodwill sent in the 23-year-old's direction following the attack on the horse she had owned for 10 years.
As well as receiving several messages of support, she has been contacted by three other people saying they plan to offer rewards totalling 400.
"The response from people has been overwhelming and I don't quite know how to thank them," said Kylie, of West Street, Folkingham.
"Last week was very difficult but it has been really comforting to know that people out there are willing to help.
"All I can hope for now is that the rewards will help the police catch whoever did this and make sure they are punished."
Lincolnshire Police spokesman Elaine James confirmed the force had been contacted with two separate offers of 500 rewards.
She said: "Police investigations are continuing and a number of new lines of inquiry are being followed up.
"Now two separate members of the public have put up a reward for information that leads to the arrest and conviction of anyone who may have been involved in injuring the animal.
"Hopefully anyone who has not come forward so far with information will do so now."
Anyone with information should contact 01522 532222.
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