A DEER was found decapitated and skinned in Abergele.

North Wales Police’s rural crime team made the grim discovery in the Dolwen area on Wednesday, January 17.

PC Dave Allen, of the North Wales force’s rural crime team, was called to investigate the scene.

Initial reports received indicated the mutilated mammal which had been found was a dog.

Speaking in a video posted on Twitter, PC Allen said: “We had reports of a dog which has been decapitated and skinned in Dolwen near Abergele.”

“Look at the fleece. It has been expertly cut. There is no head and no bones. This is not a dog but deer fleece.

“What I suspect has happened is this deer has been poached, skinned and its bones and bits have been dumped somewhere else.”

Speaking to the Journal, PC Allen added: "I have come across this before, but in Flintshire. The deer is a wild animal and will belong to no one. Generally you need landowners permission and the deer will be shot by a legal deer stalker somebody with the correct certification to do that.

"You can't tell from just the fleece what the sex of the animal is and I can't speculate on the motives behind it, but I suspect it is a poached animal as the by products - for example, the fleece has just bene discarded instead of dispose of in the correct manner."

Anyone one with information is asked call police on 101. Quote: W005670.