A 35-year-old man has admitted to sexually penetrating a male pony at a riding school in Sevenoaks, Kent, after staff set up CCTV cameras to investigate suspected abuse.
Aaron Maybank, of Snodland, appeared before magistrates in Sevenoaks on October 13 and pleaded guilty to the offence of sexual penetration by a person with a living animal.
The incident occurred on July 5 at the Bradbourne Riding and Driving Centre, but Maybank had visited the stables on at least three previous occasions, the court heard.
CCTV captures abuse at stables
Prosecutor Roisin Massey told the court: "CCTV cameras were put up in the stables because it was suspected something was going on. For three months, he's engaged in concerning behaviour and went [there] on April 9, May 14 and June 15."
"Then on July 5, it worsened, and he had sexual activity [with a male pony]. It was captured on CCTV, and forensics found human semen on the horse and tested it - it was the defendant's."
Maybank claimed in court that he was drunk and high on drugs at the time of the act.
Defence cites trauma and ADHD
Andrew Main, defending, requested an adjournment to allow a pre-sentencing report to be compiled, explaining that Maybank had suffered trauma following several bereavements in quick succession.
He said: "He turned to drink and cannabis and he's got ADHD and acts impulsively. He doesn't know why he did what he did."
Magistrates agreed to adjourn the case for an all-options pre-sentencing report. The chairman of the bench said: "We will keep the case here [for now], but it can be committed for sentencing at crown court if necessary."
Maybank was bailed to return to Maidstone Magistrates' Court on January 7 to learn his fate.
