CONVICTED (2023) | horse rapist and paedophile Phillip Henry, born c. 1987, of Auckland Crescent, Dover CT16 2JR
Phillip Henry, a known pervert with previous convictions for possession of child porn and sexual assault of two underage girls, pleaded guilty to bestiality in relation to a cob pony named Betty.
The construction worker was heard “giggling” while he forced himself upon the animal, with his trousers around his ankles, in a field at a private stable in Dover on April 16, 2021.
He was caught red-handed by a stable-hand and fled the scene, but was arrested when his DNA was found in a sample taken from the horse.
Henry initially denied bestiality, claiming that the horse had been contaminated with sperm inadvertently after he ejaculated in the field.
But he later pleaded guilty to intentionally having sex with a living animal, namely a horse, which carries a maximum sentence of two years.
Opening the case, prosecutor Don Ramble explained: “On April 16, 2021, at about 4.30pm in the afternoon, [the stable-hand] was working at Longhill Livery in Dover.
“She noticed that one of the horses was missing, and when she looked around the field, it was then that she saw the defendant, [who was] not known to her.
“He was standing behind the horse that was missing from the others, and so [the stable-hand] went over to investigate, and not long after she saw clearly what was happening.
“The defendant was wearing yellow high-visibility trousers, and these were down by his ankles. He was thrusting back and forth from behind the horse. She did not run away – she instead screamed at the defendant.
“She described in her statement the defendant’s reaction to being caught having sex with a horse.
“He casually pulled up his trousers, still exposing himself, and then [she] bravely gave chase and ran towards the defendant.
“He then began running away. She pursued him by a nearby field but he was too fast and he managed to escape.
“She then notified the owner of the horse … who had the wherewithal to immediately call his vet to attend – specifically so swabs could be taken.”
Forensic results recovered from the horse’s vagina contained the defendant’s DNA, Mr Ramble explained.
Police attended Henry’s address where they also recovered 13.3 grams of cannabis.
He was arrested for possession of cannabis and intercourse with a horse.
The court heard no harm came to Betty, while the method Henry used to restrain the cob – a breed which can weigh as much as 50 stone – remains unknown.
Mitigating, John O’Connor, said Henry receives “full support” from his mother and step-father, who attended his sentencing hearing.
“They find it very difficult to understand what happened two years ago,” he said.
Henry believes he violated the horse after becoming stressed at work, while suffering bereavement following the loss of two family members.
Mr O’Connor argued Henry has a “real prospect of rehabilitation,” while he’s fit for unpaid work at weekends.
And he said the defendant would benefit from a programme designed to help rehabilitate sex offenders, while his partner also wishes for him to attend.
Mr O’Connor stressed if Henry was jailed immediately his partner would struggle with mortgage payments, potentially risking her home.
Urging the judge to suspend a spell in custody, he said the nature of Henry’s job means “there is no reason for him to be near liveries, stables or horses at all.”
Judge Douglas Marks Moore was unconvinced, however, and sent Henry to jail while branding his actions “beyond contemplation – reprehensible, appalling, disgusting”.
He added: “In my judgement there is sometimes an offence of such a nature that courts must mark society’s disapproval and abhorrence.
And in my view this is such a case.”
After Judge Moore passed sentence, Henry could be heard saying: “Oh, that’s not good – I love you mum.”
Sentencing | jailed for eight months. Prohibited from being at any stable or place where equine animals are housed permanently, or to have any contact with horses unsupervised.
