A teenage boy has admitted trying to have sex with a Shetland pony called Cheeky.

Thomas Mikaelson, 19, covered his face as he appeared at Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday.

He pleaded guilty to a charge of attempting to allow sexual penetration by a living animal.

It relates to an incident at Gledhill Farm in Almondbury, near Huddersfield, on August 24 last year.

The pervert denied another charge of recklessly trespassing to commit a relevant sexual offence.

Prosecutor Robert Galley told the court the pleas were acceptable and that he had been instructed to invite the second charge to lie on file.

Judge Phillips KC said: ‘The farmer concerned has supplied a victim impact statement and I think that he ought to be given the opportunity of attending court at sentencing.

‘It clearly has had an impact in more than one respect upon the farm and those involved in its operation.’

He told Mikaelson: ‘You pleaded guilty to the offence at count one.

I’m not going to pass sentence today.

Your case will be listed for sentence on November 17.

Mikaelson was bailed with instructions to attend court on that date.

The judge added: ‘The fact I’m adjourning the sentence in order for the Probation Service to prepare a report on you to address the risk you pose to the public in future should not be taken by you as an indication of what the sentence will be.’