THE verdict is in – Dorset’s big cat mystery could be more than just a tall tail.

Recent sightings have been reported of a black panther-like creature prowling the countryside.

A lamb killed at a Bockhampton farm is said to have been savaged by a big cat.

Vet Duncan Reavell has looked at a picture of a deer thought to have been killed by the predator dubbed the ‘Beast of Bockhampton’ and thinks a big cat could be responsible.

The picture was taken by reader Judy Paterson.

RSPCA shop worker Judy came across a carcass while walking her dog at Conygar Hill near Dorchester.

Shocked by what she saw, Judy took a picture of the dead animal.

Judy, of Dorchester, said: “We were walking down a track when my dog Jez started to behave strangely, sniffing the air. We could see a fairly young deer on the ground with its throat missing.

“It was at about 10am and had happened quite recently because the deer was floppy and rigor mortis hadn’t set in.”

Mr Reavell, of Poundbury-based Lynwood Vets, said a big cat attack on the deer is likely because there is no evidence of a fox or dog doing the damage.

He said: “This is intriguing. There would be a huge amount of blood if the deer had been killed in that spot.

“This deer would have been killed somewhere else and dragged and moved to this location.

“It would have to be a jolly big animal to have done that and a dog wouldn’t have been capable.

“Only part of the deer has been eaten and it’s quite likely that the predator was disturbed.”

Readers have also reported sightings of the big cat as far back as 2005.

Bus driver Hugh Baldwin, 72, of Dorchester, said he has no doubt that the creature he saw on a November night while fishing in Crossways was the big cat.

He said: “I was fishing at the Warmwell centre when I saw the big cat for a very long time.

“It walked right across the path between the road for two or three minutes.

“It was a wonderful sight. It was walking along as though it knew where it was going and seemed quite relaxed.”

Mr Baldwin said he is pleased that more big cat sightings have been reported.

He said: “At the time people thought we were a bit round the bend.

“I’ve never doubted the existence of the big cat.”