A 19-year-old from Huddersfield, England, will learn his sentence in November after admitting he tried to commit a sexual act with a Shetland pony named Cheeky.
Thomas Mikaelson, from the West Yorkshire town, appeared at Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday, September 30, dressed in a light-grey suit jacket and matching jeans. He formally pleaded guilty to one count of attempting to allow sexual penetration by a living animal under UK sexual offences laws.
The charge relates to an incident on August 24, at Gledhill Farm in Almondbury, on the outskirts of Huddersfield. Prosecutor Robert Galley told the court the Crown found the guilty plea to the primary count acceptable. A secondary charge of recklessly trespassing to commit a relevant sexual offence was ordered to lie on file after Mikaelson pleaded not guilty to it.
The prosecution outlined that the incident had taken a significant toll on the farm’s management and operations. His Honour Judge Phillips KC noted that the affected farmer had submitted a detailed victim impact statement.
“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 ahead of his sentencing hearing, which is scheduled for November 17 at Leeds Crown Court with a 30-minute time estimate. Judge Phillips ordered a pre-sentence report by the Probation Service to evaluate what danger the teenager may pose to the community.
“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 him.
As he left the court complex accompanied by two female supporters, Mikaelson tried to hide his face from waiting photographers by pulling a large black head covering over his head.
Offences involving sexual acts with animals in England and Wales fall under Section 69 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003. The law makes it an offence to penetrate the vagina or anus of a living animal sexually, or to cause or allow an animal to sexually penetrate a person. Attempting such an act carries equivalent criminal liability. The statutory maximum penalty is up to two years’ imprisonment, alongside potential placement on the Violent and Sex Offender Register.
The case drew significant attention on X after UK media reported it, with users expressing shock and disgust at the details.
“What the f–k is wrong with people?” one user asked.
“Yorkshire is wild,” a second commented.
“That is seriously messed up,” a third wrote.
“That guy needs a lot of help,” a fourth chimed in.
Another person objected to the pony’s name being published, calling it “poor taste.”
Mikaelson will return to Leeds Crown Court on November 17 to receive his penalty.