Sheep dies ‘after being chased off cliff'
Members of the public confronted a man following the incident in Polly Joke, near Newquay, on July 27, according to Devon and Cornwall Police, who added that it was alleged the man reacted aggressively.
In a statement, the force said: 'We know this incident has had a huge impact on the local community and we can't imagine why anyone would willingly chase or harm an innocent animal.
'Behaviour like this is unacceptable and we will continue to work alongside the investigating officers to bring the offender to justice.
'We believe there were a number of people who witnessed this incident who are yet to come forward but who may be able to assist us in our investigation.
'If you were in the area and have any information that may help us, please, please come forward.'
Sam Haylett, of Guildford, Surrey, has denied responsibility for the sheep's death on social media, after a picture of him circulated across several platforms.
It was claimed on social media that Mr Haylett and his two teenage sons had chased the sheep, but while he admits he was there, he said another man was responsible.
Children 'upset' by shouting man
Mr Haylett said: 'Just to set things straight. Yes that is me in the picture that everyone has been sharing around and yes I was down in Cornwall.
'I went away for a week with my whole family to spread my grandma and grandad's ashes at their special place.
'We stopped at a few spots and took lots of beautiful pictures, there were lots of sheep running around the fields and below us.'
Mr Haylett said his children became 'upset' because they thought the sheep were stuck, before a man came 'shouting and swearing', accusing his children of chasing the sheep.
He said: 'This made the children even more upset! I told him to stop swearing at the children but he continued to shout and said 'How the f--- would you like it if I threw you off the cliff?' to which I replied, 'You would be going first.'
Mr Haylett claimed that the man walked towards the single sheep on the edge, which made the sheep run and then slip.
He said: 'I'm not sure if it fell down as we were further up and it's very dangerous along there, the man was still shouting so we walked off.
'There was another couple at the top of the path who both said that the man was out of order for shouting at the children and they weren't chasing the sheep.'
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