Police are urging the public to help identify a gang of sick yobs who pulled a stag’s antlers in a sickening attack in a public park.
Distressing photographs from Wollaton Park in Nottingham on New Year’s Eve show a trio of men laughing as one of them holds the deer’s antlers and shakes its head, prompting the animal to ram him to the ground. A member of the group then slapped the animal on the rump and walked off. The images were taken by volunteer ranger Chris Golightly, who shared them as part of an appeal to track the men down. Anyone who recognises them is being asked to get in touch with Nottinghamshire Police.
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One of the men grabbed the stag’s antlers and pulled on them
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Image:
Chris Golightly/BNPS)
Signs are clearly displayed in the park warning people not to approach the animals, as they can become “unpredictable and aggressive”. One woman in her 60s who witnessed the “shocking” incident from afar and rang park rangers told Nottinghamshire Live that it was only the latest incident of “terrible” behaviour from visitors. She said: “I saw the group of seven men, but three of them went right next to the deer. They then grabbed it by its antlers, shook its head and slapped the deer on the rump.. I was horrified at their shocking behaviour.
“I’ve seen lots of stupid behaviour but this was a cruel incident. It was an attack on the deer. I rang the rangers and they went off to try to find these people but couldn’t. This is happening in the park all the time. Most of the visitors on the park are sensible, but some terrible, it’s really sad. I wasn’t ranging when I was out that day so didn’t have my radio with me to report it straight away.”
He was knocked to the ground before the group walked off laughing
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Image:
Chris Golightly/BNPS)
Guests to the park are asked to keep a distance of at least 50 metres between themselves and the deer, but locals say too many are venturing close to the wild animals – with unfortunately predictable results. Past incidents include a man being thrown into the air last January after trying to take a photograph of a red deer at dangerously close range, while a stag also had to be put down in October 2022 after it injured a walker.
A spokesperson for Nottinghamshire Police has asked people to come forward with any details about the incident on New Year’s Eve. Inspector Gordon Fenwick told local media yesterday: “We are aware of these images and will be in contact with park staff to discuss this matter further. We would also like to hear from other people who were in the park at the time and saw this very concerning behaviour.” Anyone with additional information is asked to call 101 quoting incident 286 of January 3.