POLICE have charged a 19 year old male with a number of offences following the theft of livestock.

The man has been charged with five offences of theft, transferring criminal property, possessing criminal property, concealing criminal property, causing unnecessary suffering to animals and other offences.

The charges relate to a number of incidents including:

* the theft of sheep from Greenan Road, Poyntzpass on 10 December, 2014;

* the theft of sheep from Drumhorc Road and Tullylish Road, Gilford on 8 January, 2015;

* the theft of lambs from Loughbrickland on 13 January, 2015;

* the theft of goats from Scarva Road, Gilford on 5 December, 2014, the theft of a ram from Poyntzpass Road, Loughbrickland on 5 December, 2014;

He was due to before Newry Magistrates’ Court today.

As is normal procedure the charges will be reviewed by the Public Prosecution Service.