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A 47-year-old man has admitted harassing Christians by dumping animal carcasses outside churches in and around an English forest.<\/p>\n
Benjamin Lewis admitted seven offences relating to incidents in which dead deer and lambs were left at churches in the New Forest in Hampshire<\/a> earlier this year.<\/p>\n Lewis pleaded guilty to five counts of religiously aggravated intentional harassment, alarm or distress and two counts of theft of lambs.<\/p>\n The court heard Lewis intended to \u201ccause hostility\u201d with Christians or people he perceived to be Christians.<\/p>\n The defendant, of Totton, Southampton<\/a>, spoke only to confirm his name and address when he appeared at Southampton crown court on Monday. He was remanded in custody before his sentencing in February.<\/p>\n In May, police said the incidents had been distressing for the people who found the animals and had caused widespread concern.<\/p>\n The New Forest district commander, Ch Insp Scott Johnson, said: \u201cThese disturbing incidents have been upsetting for those who discovered them, and will be concerning for our wider community.<\/p>\n \u201cWe have been conducting both uniformed and plainclothes patrols and inquiries. If you see our officers while on their travels, please come over and speak to them. They\u2019ll be on hand for you to share any information, raise any concerns and ask questions.\u201d<\/p>\n The offences took place between 5 February and 30 April. The court was told they related to incidents at locations including Christ church in Colbury, St Peter\u2019s in Bramshaw, St Theresa\u2019s in Totton, and Christ church in Emery Down.<\/p>\n Details of what Lewis did were not given in court but in April a dead lamb was found hung outside St Theresa\u2019s in Totton. That evening, another carcass was found<\/a> on a road sign nearby.<\/p>\n At the time, Hampshire police confirmed a dead lamb was also found at St Peter\u2019s church on 14 April.<\/p>\n Lewis\u2019s offences relate only to this year and there is no suggestion he has been involved in any other crimes of a similar nature.<\/p>\n But there have been incidents involving carcasses being left at churches and other spots for several years. Some local people have blamed satanists.<\/p>\n