A 19-year-old British teenager faces sentencing after pleading guilty to attempting to commit a sexual act on a Shetland pony on a farm in West Yorkshire.
Thomas Mikaelson, from Huddersfield, a town in West Yorkshire, England, appeared before Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday, September 30, wearing a light-grey suit jacket and light-grey jeans.
He formally entered a guilty plea to a single charge of attempting to allow sexual penetration by a living animal under UK sexual offences laws.
The court heard the charge stems from an incident on August 24, 2025, involving a Shetland pony named Cheeky at Gledhill Farm in Almondbury, situated on the outskirts of Huddersfield.
Mikaelson pleaded not guilty to a secondary charge of recklessly trespassing to commit a relevant sexual offence.
Prosecutor Robert Galley told the court the guilty plea to the primary count was acceptable to the Crown, and the second charge was ordered to lie on file.
Impact on local farm
The prosecution outlined that the unusual incident had taken a significant toll on the property’s management and operations.
His Honour Judge Phillips KC informed the court that the affected farmer had provided a detailed victim impact statement regarding the incident.
“The farmer concerned has supplied a victim impact statement and I think that he ought to be given the opportunity of attending court at sentencing,” Judge Phillips said to the court.
“It clearly has had an impact in more than one respect upon the farm and those involved in its operation.”
Mikaelson was granted bail until his formal sentencing hearing, scheduled for November 17 at Leeds Crown Court, with a 30-minute time estimate allotted for proceedings.
Judge Phillips ordered a pre-sentence report by the Probation Service to assess the danger the 19-year-old may pose to the community in the future.
“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,” the judge warned Mikaelson.
As he departed the court complex flanked by two female supporters, Mikaelson attempted to obscure his identity from waiting photographers by pulling a large black head covering over his face.
What the law says: Bestiality and animal sexual abuse
In England and Wales, offences involving sexual acts with animals fall under Section 69 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Under Section 69, it is an offence for a person to penetrate the vagina or anus of a living animal sexually, or to cause or allow an animal to sexually penetrate them. Attempting to commit such an act carries equivalent criminal liability.
The statutory maximum penalty for bestiality offences under UK law is up to two years’ imprisonment, alongside potential placement on the Violent and Sex Offender Register (VASOR).
In Australia, bestiality is governed at state and territory levels (such as Section 79 of the Crimes Act 1900 in NSW or Section 211 of the Criminal Code in Queensland).
Sentences in Australia range from up to 10 to 14 years’ imprisonment depending on the jurisdiction, reflecting some of the strictest penalties globally against animal cruelty and sexual exploitation.
The news spreads via social media
While many UK media outlets reported the story following the court appearance, news spread via X, with many people commenting on the absurdity of the case and sharing their disgust.
“What the f**k is wrong with people?” one user asked.
“Yorkshire is wild,” a second commented on the X post.
“That is seriously messed up,” a third wrote.
“That guy needs a lot of help,” a fourth chimed in.
Another person called out the naming of the horse, calling it “poor taste”.
Mikaelson will return to Leeds Crown Court on November 17 to receive his penalty.
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