A 31-year-old man has today been jailed for a total of 14 months after pleading guilty to assaulting a horse in Redenhall, near Harleston earlier this year.

Alan Blackman, of no fixed address, appeared at Norwich Crown Court after admitting trespass with intent to commit an offence and the sexual assault on the animal at an earlier hearing in September.

Blackman was arrested after he was identified in a police CCTV appeal following an incident at farm stables off Green Lane in Redenhall in August 2015, where a horse was subjected to an attack.

The horse sustained wounds which required veterinary treatment.

Speaking after sentencing, Detective Sergeant Alison Clabon said: 'This was a shocking attack, which was not only distressing for the horse, but for the owners too.

'Blackman targeted a defenceless animal causing serious injuries, which is particularly harrowing. No one or no animal deserves to endure this kind of attack.

'Crimes such as this are very rare and today's sentencing will hopefully send out a strong message that this sort of criminality will not be tolerated.'