A MAN has been accused of having sex with a horse after its owners "hid in her barn to catch him in the act", a court heard.

Julian Ridgeway, 53, was arrested after the suspicious couple hid in the animal's barn after becoming concerned about the way Honey, their 13-year-old mare, had been behaving, the jury heard.

2 Ridgeway has denied having sex with the horse but admitted putting his hand inside it 'to see what would happen' Credit: Alamy

Leeds Crown Court, West Yorks., heard the couple stood on buckets and watched as Ridgeway led Honey into a pig pen in an outbuilding before challenging him.

Ridgeway ran off the farm, in Netherton, West Yorks., but was later questioned by police and denied being the man involved.

Patrick Palmer, prosecuting, said the animal was later examined by a vet and evidence was recovered from the animal which matched Ridgeway's DNA.

Ridgeway, of Netherton, pleaded not guilty to intercourse with an animal and trespass with intent to commit a sexual offence.

The offences are alleged to have taken place between April 18 and May 10 this year.

2 The 13-year-old mare - not pictured - had been behaving differently, sparking its owners concerns Credit: Alamy

The court heard Honey's owner, Louise Lumley, beame suspicious when she started to notice that the chain on the gate to the pen where Honey was kept had been set differently.

The jury heard the couple stood on buckets in an outbuilding one evening and saw the defendant go to the pen where the horse was kept, and watched as he led the animal out of the open into the building where they were.

Ridgeway did not see the couple but the horse put her head up and "gave the game away" by alerting the defendant to their presence.

Giving evidence, Mrs Lumley said: "I asked what he was doing with my horse. My husband said it was Ridgeway."

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The defendant ran off but was later interviewed and denied involvement - claiming he had been at home listening to a football match followed by Today in Parliament on the radio.

Ridgeway insisted the Lumleys must have been mistaken.

But he was arrested after swabs were taken from the horse and the sample was found to contain his DNA.

Mr Palmer said Ridgeway had submitted a defence statement in which he accepted going to the farm after hearing a burglar alarm go off.

He also claims in the statement he put his hand inside the horse once to see what would happen, but denies his actions had been of a sexual nature.

The trial continues.

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