Pet leopard’s six days on the run... in Cornwall

A PET leopard broke loose from its enclosure and ran free for almost a week in the Cornish countryside.

The big cat killed sheep before a farmer laid fox traps and caught it.

Police said the predator – a clouded leopard found in the wild in the Himalayan foothills – escaped after flooding damaged its pen. It fled on Boxing Day from a private property near Fowey and was found on a farm a mile away six days later. Neighbours claim the animal belongs to resident Todd Dalton, who they say keeps flamingos that have also escaped before.

One unnamed homeowner said: ‘I’ve got three children that were playing outside on Boxing Day and if I had known I would have kept them inside. A leopard wouldn’t go for an adult, but a toddler I’m not sure.’

Residents called on Cornwall council to revoke Mr Dalton’s wild animal licence but officials said he has the correct permit. He refused to comment yesterday.

The animal lover won a legal battle to keep wild cats in his London garden 12 years ago as part of a breeding programme – and was dubbed the Leopard Man of Peckham. His application also asked for permission to keep other exotic cat species including an ocelot and a margay.

Classified as vulnerable, there are now thought to be fewer than 10,000 clouded leopards left in the wild.