Equipment theft a ‘real blow’ to struggling Cold Ash farmer

Jeremy Plank had £4,000 worth of equipment stolen from a field off Cold Ash Hill, at the junction at Hatchgate Close.
He said that he had been struggling to make any money in the past few years, and to lose this equipment was a “real blow”.
Between 9.30pm on Monday, June 3, and 5am the following day, thieves cut the chain lock on the gate and made off with pens and trailers used to transport sheep.
Mr Plank said that he had just spent almost £7,000 replacing the equipment and estimated that what was stolen would cost £4,000 to replace.
“I was absolutely gutted really,” he said. “It just makes you feel sick that someone has come in and done that to all your hard work.
“It’s frustrating and makes you feel angry.
“It has been hard for a lot of sheep farmers and farmers in general recently. It has been a real struggle, so this was a real blow. We are struggling to make any money.
“There’s no respect for anything or anyone.
Mr Plank said that his flock’s vaccinations were due but they will now have to be done late as he does not have the equipment needed to transport the sheep.
Mr Plank said: “The sheep are suffering. It’s really awful.”
He added that he was particularly distressed to find that the thieves had left the gate wide open, endangering the lives of the sheep and potentially the lives of any passing motorists.
“If the sheep wandered out, there could have been an accident. One positive thing is that they stayed in [the field] – that was a stroke of luck.”
Mr Plank said that it would have taken the thieves about 30 minutes to load up the equipment and urged anyone who saw anything to contact the police.
Anyone with information should contact Pcso Paul Franklin, from Reading police station, on the Thames Valley Police non-emergency number 101 Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111 or online at