Man jailed after ‘sexual incident’ involving Shetland pony
A man has been jailed for four years after he was convicted of “outraging public decency” for a “sexual incident” involving a Shetland pony last week (30 January).
The case, which was heard at Sheffield Crown Court, related to an incident involving Alan Barnfield and a pony called Sky in a field near Doncaster, South Yorkshire on 8 August 2012.
The 44-year-old was spotted putting something around the neck of the Shetland pony and leading it and another horse to the darkened end of the paddock.
Worried residents called police and he was found “sweating profusely and smelling strongly of horses.”
In his rucksack officers found several cans of Lynx deodorant, a length of white electrical cable, a handheld water sprayer, a cloth, a metal dog chain and two bottles of Lucozade.
Barnfield was found not guilty of having sexual intercourse with the pony but was convicted of outraging public decency.
A victim impact statement was read out in court from Jodie Walton, the owner of Sky.
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Ms Walton said Sky’s behaviour changed after the assault and that she would avoid the area where the attack happened, “shake and tremble” and kick out at people.
Ms Walton eventually gave the pony to a friend so she could “start afresh and get her confidence back”. Ms Walton said that giving up the pony had been “devastating” for her young son.
Judge Peter Kelson QC said the case was “unique and repulsive” and Barnfield had an “utterly disgusting perversion.”
“What you did to Sky changed her personality completely and caused her extreme pain,” he added. “Sky was traumatised, she is a living creature who you caused great pain to.
“There is no credit to you whatsoever. You lied through your teeth to the jury.”
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Sophia Heath joined Horse & Hound in July 2013 having previously worked for the Daily Telegraph's Olympics website, CNN International and Omnisport. A Durham graduate with a Masters in journalism from City University, Sophia has evented, showjumped and hunted. Sophia left Horse & Hound in early 2015 to join an international boating website.