Jeremy Clarkson has reported the theft of 11 Easycare sheep from his Diddly Squat Farm in Oxfordshire, warning the culprits: 'Put them back. It's a farm. We're armed.' The former Top Gear presenter told The Sun he was 'p***ed off' by the nighttime raid, which also may have claimed more sheep from a nearby field.
Sheep stolen from Diddly Squat Farm
Clarkson, speaking to The Sun, said he and Kaleb Cooper, his farm manager, discovered the missing animals during a count. 'We came down yesterday, Kaleb and I, and actually counted sheep, which is quite difficult to do without dozing off,' he said. 'There are 11 that have gone missing from this field, and we think there are some missing from the other field – there are 140 or so in a field a mile or so away.'
The stolen sheep are Easycares, a breed Clarkson noted for their low-maintenance nature. 'Nobody else has got Easycares, which is what these are. They're supposedly easy to care for,' he added. Clarkson also revealed he had recently sold 24 of the sheep at market for £205 each, putting the value of the stolen animals at over £2,000.
Clarkson warns thieves and praises police
Clarkson issued a direct warning to the rustlers: 'Put them back. It's a farm. We're armed. Just so they know. It p***es me off. Honestly, it just p***es me off.' He also praised Thames Valley Police, noting that after navigating 700 hours of recorded messages, he reached an officer who recognized the farm from the Prime Video series Clarkson's Farm.
'I said, 'I know it's going to sound like I'm from 1856, but I've had some sheep stolen.' She went through the name and address and then she said, 'Oh, not your Easycares'. She's obviously been watching the show, but it is the Easycares,' Clarkson recounted. The theft was reportedly raised with police by Cooper and land manager Charlie Ireland.
Farm's size and filming schedule complicate security
Clarkson speculated the theft occurred at night or during a day when the farm was not being filmed for Clarkson's Farm, when he said there was 'a film crew here all the time' and 'a drone in the air.' Asked if the show made his farm a target, he said: 'It's more likely to make you a target than less, but I still don't think they've been stolen because they're on Diddly Squat.'
He highlighted the difficulty of securing such a large property: 'This is 1,000 acres, it's a big farm. Anyone could be anywhere and you wouldn't know.' The incident adds to the challenges Clarkson has faced at Diddly Squat, which has been featured prominently in the Amazon series and has become a tourist attraction. Thames Valley Police have not yet commented publicly on the investigation.
