Teenager Pleads Guilty to Attempted Sexual Act With Pony

A 19-year-old from Huddersfield, England, has pleaded guilty to attempting to commit a sexual act on a Shetland pony. Thomas Mikaelson appeared at Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday, September 30, and entered a guilty plea to one charge of attempting to allow sexual penetration by a living animal.

The incident occurred on August 24, 2025, at Gledhill Farm in Almondbury, near Huddersfield, involving a Shetland pony named Cheeky. Mikaelson pleaded not guilty to a secondary charge of recklessly trespassing to commit a relevant sexual offense, which the Crown accepted to lie on file.

Prosecutor Robert Galley stated that the incident had a significant impact on the farm's operations. The farmer provided a victim impact statement to the court, detailing the effects of the event.

Mikaelson was granted bail and is scheduled for sentencing on November 17 at Leeds Crown Court. A pre-sentence report has been ordered to assess any future risk he may pose to the public.

Under UK law, specifically Section 69 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, sexual acts with animals are prohibited. The offense includes penetrating an animal or allowing an animal to penetrate a person. Attempting such an act carries the same criminal liability. The maximum penalty for such offenses in the UK is two years' imprisonment and potential registration as a violent and sex offender.

The case has garnered attention on social media, with users expressing shock and disgust at the incident.