Description
Isaac Cluley, 23, filmed himself committing the depraved act with the Shetland pony, which was discovered on his mobile phone.
A young man who had sex with a horse was tearfully accused by the owner of having "raped" her family's pet pony.
The woman emotionally made her accusation before Isaac Cluley was sentenced for his "unusual" offending.
The 23-year-old pleaded guilty at an earlier hearing to one count of sexual penetration of a living animal last August.
He also admitted possessing extreme pornography, relating to mobile phone footage of the pony and two obscene and perverted images downloaded from the internet.
Leicester Crown Court was told Cluley was prosecuted in 2016 for an earlier offence of having sex with a different horse - when he was given a community order.
Andrew Fitch-Holland, prosecuting, said a friend of the defendant's chanced upon the video when borrowing his phone last summer.
Cluley was drunk at the time and the concerned friend wanted to phone his mother - and was shocked to see the footage with the pony.
The police then became involved.
Cluley, described as having learning difficulties, was in "considerable distress" following his arrest and officers were concerned for his wellbeing.
The defendant told them: "I want help with my mental health, it's why I've been drinking more lately."
The horse's owner attended court to read a personal impact statement.
She said she purchased the Shetland ten years ago for her five year-old-son, and the two had grown up together.
Before being informed of the incident by the police, she said she suspected her horses had been "frightened in some way" in their field because of a noticeable change in their behaviour - particularly the small 10 hands high Shetland mare.
The pony was unusually fearful and nervous and suddenly began acting threateningly towards her teenage son, as if to kick him.
Sobbing with emotion, she spoke of the distress caused to her family and the expense of having to install a £286 CCTV field camera to watch her animals grazing, in the Leicester area.
A veterinary forensic examination of the pony cost her £60.
The Shetland is now kept locked in a stable overnight, when it was used to being outdoors, as the offence is thought to have happened in the early hours.
She told the judge: "The fact someone was walking around and prepared to rape an animal on more than one occasion (because of the previous conviction) concerns me greatly."
The 44-year-old owner added: "I feel anxious because I don't know how many times it's happened."
After the hearing she said: "The pony was such a sweetie, so trusting, but is now wary and defensive.
"When she becomes scared and fearful - even by something normal like having a rug put on - it reminds me of what happened.
"If it was down to me he would be in custody now.
"I can only hope whatever his rehabilitation involves, that it works.
"I can't forgive what he did to a harmless animal, I've not heard anything to explain why he's done it and he's shown no remorse."
WHAT WAS THE SENTENCE?
Cluley, unemployed, of Milligan Road, Aylestone, Leicester, was given a six month jail sentence, suspended for two years, with a 30 day rehabilitation activity requirement.
He will have to attend up to 40 days of a sex offender programme and pay the pony's owner £350 in compensation.
Cluley was also placed on a two month electronically monitored home curfew, between 8pm and 8am.
He will be on a sex offender register for five years and was placed on a sexual harm prevention order, for the same duration - stipulating various conditions, including not entering a field, paddock or any animal enclosure where there is livestock, when he is on his own.
He is barred from working with animals in any capacity and cannot own or care for any animal without the permission of his offender manager.
WHAT THE JUDGE SAID
Recorder William Edis QC said: "For the second time in your life you're before the court for having sexual intercourse with a horse and that - if I say no more - is an alarming picture.
"One thing I have to do as the judge is to try and work out why you've committed this unusual offence twice.
"Is it because you have overpowering sexual interest in horses?
"Is it a cry or help or attention seeking?
"One thing that has to happen is you have to decide to stop doing this - or be made to stop.
"Even though you amply deserve a prison sentence, I'm not sure that's going to address the problem, I have to find the best way to protect society and animals from you.
"You have been extensively examined by various professionals.
"No-one has told me why you did this."
Recorder Edis said he hoped Cluley had "heard the pain" expressed by the pony owner.
He said: "Her son grew up with that animal and his relationship with that animal may never be the same again.
"She's anxious about more abuse happening to another animal.
"These are not victimless crimes, these are real victims with real pain and you caused it for reasons I can only guess at.
"You have learning difficulties and a mix of anxiety and depression and an inability to cope.
"There's a package that's been put together to stop you doing this and if I send you to prison that opportunity would be lost."
MITIGATION
Gary Short, mitigating, said that rehabilitation courses were not available in prison, due to the pandemic, and the defendant was due to move into sheltered accommodation in a few weeks - which would provide him with additional support.
He said Cluley, who attended court with his mother, suffered from significant intellectual impairment, had a lack of impulse control and failed to understand the consequences of his actions - and needed specialist help and supervision.
Mr Short said Cluley's previous community order sentence did not "get anywhere near" addressing the root cause of his offending, but a suitable rehabilitation package was now available, if he was spared immediate custody.
The barrister added that Cluley was mixing with of a group of people who "used him like a puppet," getting him drunk and encouraging him to do certain things.
Mr Short added: "It's clear he was also suffering from the impact of the loss of his father."