A sheriff may have to view bizarre footage of a Crieff man’s assault on a horse to determine if the act was sexually motivated.
Pensioner William Nicoll was spotted by horrified members of the public as he approached the animal and began repeatedly inserting his hand up its bottom.
The disturbing incident was filmed on a mobile phone and may help Perth Sheriff Court assess the seriousness of the offence.
Solicitor Alison Mackay attempted to persuade Sheriff Michael Fletcher that the incident did not have a sexual element and said that view was accepted by the Crown.
The sheriff, however, countered by commenting that if the assault were not sexually motivated then it was “a very odd offence indeed”.
Nicoll (66), of Kincardine Road, has admitted behaving in a disorderly manner at The Holdings in Maxton Road on July 9 last year by entering a field containing three horses, approaching one and lifting its tail to carry out the act, causing fear and alarm.
The court has been told that Nicoll receives assistance from social workers and a community mental health nurse.
Sentence was deferred until May 22, when a hearing on the facts will be held.
