Man accused of shooting his sister’s donkey in head

A man from Cornwall has appeared in court charged with killing his sister’s donkey.

Darrell Duffil stood before Bodmin magistrates on Wednesday (2 March).

He pleaded guilty of shooting his sister, Carolyn Jones’, donkey Claude in the head with an air rifle after an argument on Monday (28 February) in Looe, Cornwall.

Ms Jones found the 10-year-old donkey in the stable in a pool of blood.

The 54-year-old man had reportedly drunk half a bottle of rum before the alleged attack.

He has been remanded in custody until 9 March.

Stay in touch with all the news in the run-up to and throughout the major shows and events during 2026 and beyond with a Horse & Hound subscription. Subscribe today for all you need to know ahead of these major events, plus online reports on the action as it happens from our expert team of reporters and in-depth analysis in our special commemorative magazines. Have a subscription already? Set up your unlimited website access now