Stolen rabbit returned to charity farm

A rabbit has been returned to a charity farm three days after being stolen.

Ouseburn Farm, in Newcastle, said a man broke into the site on Friday night and stole Kevin the giant lop from his hutch.

It is the third time animals have been stolen from the inner city farm in two years, which manager Katie Bates said was "emotionally exhausting".

But just hours after appealing for information about Kevin's whereabouts on social media on Monday, Bates said three young girls handed Kevin in at a neighbouring pub in a cardboard box.

"We weren't really expecting the outcome that we got, and so quickly as well," Bates said.

"I was just overwhelmed, it was incredible."

In August 2024, eight rare chickens were stolen from the charity farm.

Another rabbit, Snowy, was taken in October 2025.

"I think it's like emotionally exhausting for us all," Bates said. "It's a lot."

The farm had already put more security measures in place since the previous thefts, including CCTV cameras and flood lights.

"You hope that it wouldn't happen, but we're definitely reviewing the housing of the small animals now so that it doesn't ever happen again because it's a lot to go through," Bates said.

The farm manager added Kevin's disappearance was particularly hard for the staff and volunteers because the rabbit had recently lost his brother Barry.

"We'd been arranging to get him a new friend, so the staff were devastated."

But Bates said Kevin has since "settled in really well".

"We've got like 70 volunteers who all care for the animals, we work with adults with learning disabilities, and they get really attached to our animals," she said.

"It might have seemed like maybe a small thing to that person who took Kevin, but it has such a ripple effect and such an impact in our community."

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