A young family have been left in a state of shock before Easter after thugs killed their pet rabbits in a sick attack

Gill Hughes, 36, discovered her three rabbits were taken from their hutch at the family home in Braintree.

After putting a sign up in her local shop to find them she was told two of the three were dead.

Heartbreak: Tayla and Millie at the garden grave of their pet rabbits Ralph and Rosie, who thugs stole and killed. Picture: SEANA HUGHES

She said: "I had put up a notice in the shop to say they were lost or stolen. The lady who works there came round to our home and said her neighbour found them dead in her garden."

Miss Hughes, a care assistant went round to the house in Longleath Drive with her 13-year-old son, Andy.

He identified the two rabbits - Rosie and Ralph - and to his horror could not believe what he saw. The third rabbit has not been found.

She continued: "Their heads were completely smashed in. They had been smacked against the wall.

"I've had to take two days off work because my kids are in such a bad state it has just traumatised them. It's just a sick thing to do, it's just totally unnecessary."

They have two other children Tayla, 11 and six-year-old Millie.

She added: "My son is asking: 'Why did they do it to them?".

RSPCA spokeswoman Klare Kennett described the incident as despicable and explained the rabbits probably suffered because the culprits were not experienced in techniques of animal euthanasia.

The attacks happened in the early hours of Sunday at about the same time suspected tyre vandals are believed to have slashed more than 30 tyres around the area.

If you know who carried out the attacks, call Braintree police on 01376 551312 or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Published Friday, April 11, 2003

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette