A THUG mutilated a horse by stabbing it 20 times - but was only given a two-month jail-term over the despicable attack.

Reece Reed, 19. knifed the former prize-winning horse and cut the wings off three chickens after breaking into the farm in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, in April last year.

1 Reece Reed, 19, was charged with criminal damage after attacking the horse Credit: Northamptonshire Police

But the Northampton Crown Court heard the judge could not give the teen a longer sentence than two months as he had been charged with criminal damage instead of animal cruelty.

He did receive another six months behind bars - for carrying the knife used in the attack, the Northampton Chronicle reported.

Judge Michael Fowler yesterday slammed the charges against the teen, saying it had been an "error".

He said: "This episode can only be described as wholly despicable. The charges that you face today do not reflect the wickedness of your behaviour.

"This has been treated as if it were criminal damage against two inanimate objects. It isn't. And it is in my view and error that ought to be corrected."

The court heard the farmer had heard a burglar alarm at 7.30am in April - running to find a window in the summer house had been pried open, and another smashed.

He then saw Reed, who wasn't wearing any trousers, standing inside the chicken coop.

The prize-winning miniature show horse, called Sol, was found bleeding from his stab wounds.

Tragically, Sol - who had been on track to become a champion show horse worth more than £3,000 - is now unable to compete again.

In a victim impact statement, Sol's owner said: "After I learned that Sol had been hurt I was devastated and heartbroken."

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Reed pleaded guilty to criminal damage.

The court heard he was "remorseful" over what had happened.

He will serve his sentence in a young offenders' institute.