A man from who was caught on a CCTV camera viciously attacking a young horse has been banned from keeping horses and ponies for life, Bristol Magistrates’ Court has ruled.
Connie Mullane, 25, of Winterbourne, South Gloucestershire, admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to a pony on May 20, 2017.
Video shows how he had inflicted blunt force trauma and used physical violence, violating Section 4 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006.
The disturbing footage shows Mullane picking up a piece of wood and using it to strike the horse in the face.
Connie Mullane, 25, of Winterbourne, South Gloucestershire, admitted to causing unnecessary suffering to a pony, pictured
RSPCA inspector Miranda Albinson, who investigated the case, said: ‘This is an absolutely horrific case of animal cruelty.
‘There is never an excuse to treat an animal in this way.
‘CCTV footage clearly shows Connie Mullane hitting the poor horse in the face with a piece of wood in an incident which would have caused pain and left the horse terrified.’
At Bristol Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday Mullane was sentenced to 24 weeks in prison, suspended for two years and given the lifetime disqualification order on equines.
He was also ordered to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work and must pay £500 in court costs and a £115 victim surcharge.
Connie Mullane picked up a piece of wood and struck it against a defenseless pony, pictured
After inflicting blunt force trauma onto the pony Connie Mullane, pictured, is banned from keeping horses and ponies for life