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Case #10068 Rating: 5.0 out of 5
Horse sexually assaulted
Tyne and Wear, EN (UK)Incident Date: Wednesday, Sep 6, 2006
Disposition: Convicted
Defendant/Suspect: Mark Woollen
Case Updates: 1 update(s) available
A man who has been banned from every field in Britain was further disgraced on Sept 6, after being found lurking at the stables where he had sex with a horse.
Mark Woollen had been bailed after admitting the act with the horse, Molly, at East Benton Stables, Tyne and Wear. But while awaiting sentence he was seen near the stables again.
The 33-year-old, of Longbenton, Northumberland, was electronically tagged after North Tyneside magistrates found he had breached his bail conditions.
Prosecutor Kevin Wardlaw said: 'What on earth was he doing there at 6.45am? It is obvious he needs help.'
The horse he assaulted, whose name is Molly, is reported by her owner to have lost weight due to the stress of the abuse.
Case UpdatesA serial animal abuser was sentenced after a string of sex attacks on a horse. Mark Woollen was caught with his trousers round his ankles standing behind a horse and engaging in a sex act with it.
He preyed on the hapless horse, called Molly, and was spotted riding her around a field with no trousers on.
Molly's owner was so distraught she said it was like 'having a member of your family raped'.
Now he has been given a six-month suspended jail term and ordered to sign the Sex Offenders Register for seven years.
Magistrates in North Tyneside also heard how he had stolen items from the horses and was found in possession of amphetamines and cannabis.
Mark Brennan, prosecuting, said: 'A witness went into one stable and a man, identified as Woollen, was standing behind a horse.
'He ran off when spotted and the witness said she believed he had been having sex with it.
'At another stable a horse owner arrived and saw the stable of his horse, Molly, had been opened.
'Woollen had his trousers down and his hands imbetween his legs. Another time Woollen was seen to be riding Molly with no trousers on.
'On his arrest he said "I've been a fool to myself". He told police he had given in to the temptation of having sex with horses. He admitted riding without his trousers for sexual gratification.'
Woolen admitted intercourse with an animal and asked for seven similar offences to be taken into account.
He also pleaded guilty to two offences of possession of drugs and one of theft, with four other thefts of riding equipment to be taken into consideration.
Woollen was given the six month jail term, suspended for two years, and given a supervision order for two years and told to do 100 hours community work.
After the case Molly's owner, Jean Day, said: 'I'm really pleased he has been put on the sex offender's register but I was hoping he would go to jail to be honest.
'It was like having a member of your family raped, that's how bad it was.
'Molly's our horse and has been for 13 years, it terrible to think what she has gone through.
'Woollen disgusts me and he should be ashamed of himself.' Woollen, 33, of Goathland Avenue, North Tyneside, was caught exposing himself and indecently assaulting the horse called Molly at East Benton Stables, off Station Road, Wallsend, in March this year.
He also stole of riding equipment from various stables in North Tyneside.
He was spotted on various occasions riding horses in his underwear, before the 33-year-old was captured on CCTV abusing Molly.
Woollen was caught on March 14 when George Day, Molly's owner, walked into the stable to find Woollen standing next to the horse with no trousers on.
Elizabeth Dunbar, mitigating, said: 'He is extremely distraught for himself and his family who have had to endure harassment and upset from third parties who have read certain items in the press.
'Clearly he has many problems which have culminated in these events.
'He has recognised he has a problem and wants everything out in the open so he can get the help he needs. He needs help rather than punishment.' | Source: Metro.Co.Uk - Nov 28, 2006
Update posted on Nov 29, 2006 - 5:51PM |
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