JAIL SENTENCE FOR GALASHIELS MAN JORDAN TURNBALL OVER BESTIALITY IN SCOTLAND

A man from Galashiels, Jordan Turnball, has been sentenced to seven months in jail by Aberdeen Sheriff Court after admitting to having had sexual intercourse with a Shetland pony. Turnball, aged 28, and his 20-year-old friend Joshua Lee-Paterson each pleaded guilty to separate incidents of involving horses in sexual acts at Cothal Farm in Fintray.

Turnbull’s offence took place between October and December 2018, while Lee-Paterson committed his offences between October and November of the same year. A third man, 34-year-old Mark Findlater, admitted to distributing obscene material depicting his co-accused engaged in sexual acts with horses; he was sentenced to 13 months and two weeks in prison.

Fiscal depute Colin Neilson described the incident occurring in a small wooden stable located in a field. All three men knew each other. The Shetland ponies involved, named Jack and Ruby, belonged to Findlater, who was in a relationship with Turnbull.

Court heard that between October 1 and December 31, 2018, Turnbull engaged in acts of bestiality on one of the ponies, acts that were recorded on a mobile phone. Similarly, Lee-Paterson also committed acts of bestiality on one of the horses from October 1 to November 29, 2018, with the use of an air compression device. These acts were also filmed.

Furthermore, between January 17 and February 11, 2020, Findlater sent several packages containing letters and images describing and depicting the acts of bestiality involving his co-accused.

Lee-Paterson was traced and arrested on February 5, 2020. During police interviews, he claimed he had been coerced into performing the acts by Findlater.

Representing Turnball, lawyer Mathew Patrick stated that his client had also been pressured into committing the offences. He noted that Turnbull suffered from psychological difficulties and appeared to be easily suggestible, suggesting this may have influenced his actions.

Sheriff Philip Mann sentenced Findlater, of Sidlaw Range, Kirriemuir, to 13 months and two weeks, emphasizing his criminal record and condemning his actions involving recording and sharing such repulsive material.

Instead of immediate custody, Lee-Paterson, of Bell Place, Bagshot, England, received a supervision order for 18 months along with 225 hours of unpaid work. He was also placed under the notification requirements of the Sexual Offences Act for the same period.

Turnbull, of Meigle Street, Galashiels, was sentenced to seven months in prison and was subjected to the notification requirements for a duration of 10 years.