A 47-year-old man has pleaded guilty to a series of disturbing incidents involving animal carcasses being left outside churches in the New Forest, Hampshire.
Court Hears Details of 'Disturbing' Offences
Benjamin Lewis, from Totton, Southampton, appeared at Southampton Crown Court on Monday where he admitted seven offences. The charges related to leaving a decapitated deer's head and lambs at various locations around the national park between February 5 and April 29 this year.
Lewis also pleaded guilty to stealing lambs from local residents Myra Noyce and Sarah Harrison between April 1 and 30. Furthermore, he admitted five counts of religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress. The court heard that within his charges, he admitted displaying a sign hostile towards a religious group.
A Pattern of Sinister Discoveries
The animal remains were discovered outside several churches, which Hampshire Police described as 'disturbing'. The locations included:
- Christ's Church in Colbury
- St Peter's Church in Bramshaw
- St Theresa's Church in Totton
- Christ Church in Emery Down
One specific incident in April involved a dead lamb found hung outside a church in Totton. That same evening, another carcass with its throat slit was discovered on Penn Common in Bramshaw.
Appearing in the dock wearing a grey jumper, Lewis spoke only to give his name and enter his pleas. Judge Jaron Crooknorth remanded him in custody until his sentencing, scheduled for February 4.
History of Suspected Occult Activity in the Area
These latest guilty pleas follow a spate of suspected satanic animal killings within the New Forest in recent years, causing significant concern in the community.
In May 2024, a deer's head was left on top of a parish council stone in Burley, a village famous for its association with witch Sybil Leek. This was accompanied by an upside-down cross. Earlier in January 2023, pig hearts surrounded by candles were found on Stagbury Hill, raising fears of animal sacrifice.
Other past incidents include:
- In December 2022, a cat was found hanging from a flagpole at St Peter's Church in Bramshaw.
- In 2019, sheep were found with spray-painted pentagrams and a cow was stabbed in the neck in Bramshaw.
- In 2020, a stabbed sheep was dumped next to a cross and pitchfork in Cadnam.
New Forest District Commander, Chief Inspector Scott Johnson, stated earlier this year that these "disturbing incidents have been upsetting for those who discovered them and will be concerning for our wider community".
The case highlights ongoing tensions and strange occurrences in the picturesque national park, with Lewis's sentencing early next year expected to bring a measure of closure to the affected residents and congregations.
