A ‘lonely’ man who ‘raped’ a Shetland pony in Trowbridge has avoided a prison sentence.
Perverted Damion Ogeare, 43, admitted having sex with the mare after his DNA was found inside her vagina during an assessment by vets.
The defendant, of Woolpack Meadows, Trowbridge, was caught on CCTV cameras entering the pony’s stable at around 6.30pm on 24 January last year.
The pony, named Cassieopia, had been restrained with a dog lead during the assault, Winchester Crown Court heard today (Friday).
Prosecutor Tom Wright spoke of how Ogeare had remained in the stable for around ten minutes – later emerging naked from the waist down.
He said: “[The lead] had been found discarded at the address. The lead had evidently been used to restrain the animal no doubt, at the time in question.”
Mr Wright said that concerns were raised by other locals when news broke of the incident, with one man reporting that he found a dog lead on a cow.
Labelling Ogeare a “horrible man”, Cassieopia’s owner Christine Woolley said that her ponies are her “whole life”, adding that his actions “ruined my trust in society”.
She added that Ogeare’s offending was intentional and well-planned, believing that he must have scoped out the site previously.
“I have been feeling very angry and very frustrated, my horses are almost a part of me”, Mrs Woolley continued.
“To have one assaulted in such a degrading manner has completely ruined my trust in society.”
Holly Fagan, defending, told the court that there “doesn’t seem much point in trying to rationalise something like this”, adding that the defendant was “going through a period of acute loneliness and isolation” when he committed the crime.
“He’s expressed a great deal of remorse”, she added – stating that Ogeare wishes “express his deepest apologies” to Mrs Woolley.
Ms Fagan said he is on benefits, and has been signed off work for “some time” and has had a hip replacement, which has also “contributed to his poor mental wellbeing”.
Judge, Recorder Gordon Bebb opened his sentencing remarks by stating: “Judges in court are used to most things but sometimes certain crimes stop even a hardened judge in their tracks, and this is one of those offences.
“I know that any right thinking member of the public would be completely disgusted by what you did.”
For one count of sexual penetration of a living animal, he sentenced Ogeare to an 18-month community order with the requirement to complete 30 days of rehabilitation work with the probation service.
An indefinite restraining order was also imposed, prohibiting him from contacting Mrs Woolley or going to Whaddon Lane, including nearby stables and fields.
The defendant escaped having to register as a sex offender – something that can only be order if a person is sentenced to a prison term for the offence.
Recorder Bebb also ordered Ogeare to pay Mrs Woolley £299.50 for her veterinary fees and the cost of a new CCTV camera, which she purchased for added protection.
