A teenager has admitted to attempting to have sex with a Shetland pony after allegedly breaking into a West Yorkshire farm.
Thomas Mikaelson, 19, entered a guilty plea at Leeds Crown Court to a charge of attempting to allow sexual penetration by a living animal.
The offence involved a pony called Cheeky at Gledhill Farm in Almondbury and allegedly took place on August 24 last year.
The court heard the attempted attack had affected both the farm and its staff “in more than one respect”.
Mikaelson, who is from Huddersfield, denied a separate charge of recklessly trespassing to commit a relevant sexual offence.
Prosecutor Robert Galley informed the court the Crown found the pleas acceptable and said he had been instructed to request the second charge lie on file.
Judge Phillips KC noted the farmer had provided a victim impact statement and said he should have the chance to attend sentencing.
The judge said: “It clearly has had an impact in more than one respect upon the farm and those involved in its operation.”
A teenager has admitted to attempting to have sex with a Shetland pony after allegedly breaking into a West Yorkshire farm
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Addressing Mikaelson directly, Judge Phillips KC confirmed that sentencing would not take place that day.
The judge cautioned Mikaelson the adjournment should not be interpreted as any signal regarding the eventual sentence, explaining the delay was necessary for the Probation Service to compile a report assessing the risk he poses to the public going forward.
Judge Phillips KC said: “The fact I’m adjourning the sentence in order for the Probation Service to prepare a report on you to address the risk you pose to the public in future should not be taken by you as an indication of what the sentence will be.”
Mikaelson was released on bail with directions to return to court for sentencing.
Thomas Mikaelson entered a guilty plea at Leeds Crown Court
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PA
The teenager departed the courtroom wearing a large black head covering, accompanied by two women.
He is due to be sentenced on November 17.
The hearing is expected to last 30 minutes.
The Shetland pony is a smaller breed of pony.
The Shetland pony is a smaller breed of pony
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It originates from the Shetland Islands off the northeast coast of Scotland.
They typically stand between seven and 10.5 hands high (28 to 42 inches / 71 to 107 cm) at the withers.
Traditional breed standards set a maximum height limit of 42 inches.
They generally weigh between 400 and 450 pounds (181 to 204 kg).
