Rustling case expands

Police investigating finding 14 sheep crammed into a car they stopped have found three illegal slaughterhouses in the Hastings suburb of Flaxmere.

The sheep were found about 3am on Monday after police chased a Mazda four-door saloon which failed to stop.

Sergeant Eden Sewell said the car eventually stopped in a Flaxmere park and its four occupants fled.

Two men, aged 23 and 16, were arrested and are to appear in Hastings District Court this week.

Another man was arrested later in the day and a fourth is being sought.