An Australian man who broke into a stable to sexually abuse a horse claimed that the animal gave him the go-ahead by nuzzling his crotch and winking.
Daniel Webb-Jackson, 31, pleaded not guilty to animal cruelty relating the incident, which took place in Grafton, New South Wales, on 22 January.
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
“Police found Webb-Jackson crouching in the corner of a fourth open stable, where he was arrested after a short scuffle with police and taken to Grafton police station,” local newspaper The Daily Examiner reports.
There, he admitted that he had committed two sex acts with a two-year-old filly. He reportedly told police that he had broken into the stables to “to chill out and have oral and digital sex with a horse and masturbate”, the Queensland-based Morning Bulletin reports.
He argued that he believed that the horse had consented because she “smelt his crotch and winked at him”, says News.com.au.
The court was not convinced, handing Webb-Jackson a jail term of ten months and a AUS$700 (£400) fine for animal cruelty.
The horse’s trainer said that the animal’s temperament had changed radically since the incident, which had interfered with a promising racing career.
“The filly went from being quiet to just being highly strung, she changed in 24 hours. We had to put her in the paddock to try and get her head right,” he said, calling Webb-Jackson’s crimes “really sick stuff”.
-
The UK-made Storm Shadow missiles Ukraine is using in RussiaThe Explainer Ukraine reportedly deployed the long-range British missiles this week, following a tense meeting between Zelenskyy and Trump
-
Dry skin, begone! 8 products to keep your skin supple while travelingThe Week Recommends Say goodbye to dry and hello to hydration
-
Sudoku medium: October 23, 2025The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
-
Sanae Takaichi: Japan’s Iron Lady set to be the country’s first woman prime ministerIn the Spotlight Takaichi is a member of Japan’s conservative, nationalist Liberal Democratic Party
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of TaiwanIn the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdownIN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American citiesUnder the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
How China uses 'dark fleets' to circumvent trade sanctionsThe Explainer The fleets are used to smuggle goods like oil and fish
-
One year after mass protests, why are Kenyans taking to the streets again?today's big question More than 60 protesters died during demonstrations in 2024
-
What happens if tensions between India and Pakistan boil over?TODAY'S BIG QUESTION As the two nuclear-armed neighbors rattle their sabers in the wake of a terrorist attack on the contested Kashmir region, experts worry that the worst might be yet to come
-
Why Russia removed the Taliban's terrorist designationThe Explainer Russia had designated the Taliban as a terrorist group over 20 years ago
