A BELOVED tortoise called Timmy — believed to be Britain’s longest serving pet — has been stolen after 63 YEARS living happily with the same owner.

Gutted grandad Rex Coxeter, 74, was given the endangered Hermann’s tortoise when he was a schoolboy aged just 11 and has treasured his company ever since.

Rex and his wife Jane left Timmy in their back garden as usual while they went to Scotland for a short break and when they came back they found he had been snatched.

Neighbours said they saw a scrap metal van outside his house shortly after he left and noticed a man looking around his garden and believe that he pinched Timmy, aged 93.


[link to www.thesun.co.uk]