THE spiralling of sadistic sheep killings on Dartmoor this week sparked a desperate plea for information to bring the slaughter to an end. The call comes after more brutal killings in the Peter Tavy Common and Whitchurch Common areas. The latest attacks occurred between September 11 and 18, with approximately 30 sheep being killed in various areas near Cox Tor and below Pork Hill car park. The animals belonged to six different farmers, whereas previously they have belonged to just one. Cherry Seage, secretary of Dartmoor Commoners? Council, said some had been sexually mutilated, tongues cut out and eyes gouged out in an apparent ritualistic fashion similar to previous cases. Others had just had their necks broken. Most had been also laid out ritualistically in a circle. ?In one case, the farmer went out during the day onto the moor and there was nothing there, but in the evening the dead sheep had appeared. Rigor mortis had set in, so it was apparent the sheep had been killed elsewhere and moved there,? she said. Mrs Seage said the killings were becoming increasingly vicious and she was concerned they would not end with sheep. Farmers involved are not willing to be named for fear of reprisals. One said the sheep were ?dying in agony?. ?I have had autopsies done and have never seen bruising like it. They must have been held for a very long time. The blood in their lungs is from trying to breath. ?I am ashamed and upset that I was asleep only half a mile away while they were being murdered on the moor. I feel I have let them down as I was not there to save them.? Farmers say they are desperate for information and will be meeting with police to discuss a sensible course of action. Some have even been discussing the possibility of setting up vigilante groups. Commoners? chairman, Prof Ian Mercer, said he was appalled at the attacks. ?Apart from the viciousness of these attacks on frightened, undefended sheep with its obvious animal welfare implications, somebody?s stupid ritual enjoyment is affecting farmers? livelihoods and their own well being. ?The psychological situation in the farm household of ?What shall we find tomorrow? How many more?? is probably more harmful than the loss of stock.? Prof Mercer said the returns on grazing were already so poor that many farmers were on the verge of giving up. ?Something like this could well push them too far. The enjoyment of Dartmoor by all who love it would then be affected ? without grazing there would be no easy access, no good views.? He could not believe that everyone involved in ?this ritual, bloodthirsty acitivity? could have been ?so thoroughly brainwashed? that they could not tell what they knew. RSPCA Inspector Becky Wadey said post mortems had been carried out on previously killed animals and the reports were being worked on. She hoped to establish whether they had been tranquillised before being killed, or possibly clipped by cars. She was also liaising with the police. ?Even if we can tell what?s been happening, we have still got to find the persons responsible. We have been drawing a blank. Someone must have seen something,? she said. An animal welfare organisation is offering a substantial reward for information. Contact PC Dave Pickles at Tavistock Police Station on 08452 777444, or Crimestoppers on 0800 555111 if you wish to remain anonymous. PC Pickles said: ?We are investigating this on a case to case basis and I would encourage the public to contact the police on the Crimestoppers number and quote log 250 of September 20,? he said. ?These are very worrying incidents but despite national publicity we have not had any feedback as yet. ?Someone out there must know who is doing this and what is behind it.?