Looking back at some of the Gazette's stories from yester-year...

A HORSE breeder from Coalpit Heath said he was shocked but relieved to have his son’s racehorse back after it was stolen and found in Ireland.

Bert Strickland, of Henfield, first found his four-year-old bay filly, June, missing on the morning of October 19.

Mr Strickland quickly rang some of his horse contacts and tracked down the horse at a horse hauliers in Ireland later that day.

After checking the horse’s microchip, the haulier agreed to ship the horse back to England for no charge.

Just two days after June was stolen the horse was back in its paddock.

June, also known as Immortal Glance, was often used by Mr Strickland’s 16-year-old son Nathan at race events in Hereford.

Mr Strickland said: “The racing world is very small and it only took a few enquiries for me to find out where June had gone.”

Thieves could quickly sell stolen horses in Ireland because there was no horse passport legislation in place.

Mr Strickland said: “I want to take extra precautions against this in future but what can you do apart from watching the horses 24 hours a day?"