Man slaughters ex-boss' sheep

A man who slaughtered two of his ex-employer's sheep said he was taking "one for me and one for my friend".

Jason Mathew Work stopped working for the farm owner years ago, but returned with a friend on July 29 in a ute.

The location of the farm was not disclosed in court.

The pair arrived at the farm gate, which was padlocked, but Work, knowing where the spare key was hidden, entered the woolshed and found the key, using it to unlock the gate.

The pair entered the farm and found a two-wheel farm bike, and started it with the key in the ignition, police prosecutor Sergeant Stephen Butler said in the Whanganui District Court on Tuesday.

They then took the motorbike to the stock yard, where they mustered up about 20 sheep, then killed two ewes.

The ewes were each pregnant with twins, Mr Butler said.

Police arrived while Work was putting the carcasses away. He told them he was "only taking two sheep for meat. One for me and one for my friend."

He pleaded guilty in court to burglary and unlawfully converting a motorcycle.

Defence lawyer Stephen Ross said his client was now working at a chicken farm.

Judge Philip Crayton remanded Work for sentencing on October 12.