Video
NEIGH JOKE
Cruel teenage girl avoids jail for repeatedly whipping a pony ‘in a temper’ after she struggled to mount it
Chloe Morgan, 18, is seen flailing the defenceless pony in viral video viewed more than two million times
A CRUEL teenage girl who whipped a terrified pony "in a temper" after it threw her off its back walked free from court today after a judge decided not to send her to jail.
Chloe Morgan, 18, is seen flailing the dappled grey pony — which was tied up and could not run away — in video that viral and was viewed more than two million times online.
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In the footage the girl l is bucked twice by the horse so jumps off
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RSPCA officers took action after more than 20,000 animal lovers complained about the shocking assault on four-year-old cob Emry.
The 34-second clip — filmed by a teenage friend of Morgan's who posted it online "for a laugh" — was played to magistrates in Llanelli, Carmarthenshire.
It shows Morgan being thrown off Emry and then using the whip to beat the defenceless animal.
RSPCA prosecutor Nick Devonald said: "The video on Facebook caused outrage when it was posted and had two million views.
"Vets who saw the video said the pony was unable to escape because it was tied up.
"Morgan whipped the pony in temper and anger. The animal was terrified and frightened throughout the video.
"The vets who saw it said that Morgan had used excessive brutality against the horse which was fearful and distressed throughout the ordeal."
Death threats were made against care worker Morgan after the video went viral, the court heard.
When interviewed, Morgan claimed she had sat on the horse for ten minutes before it was spooked and she was forced to hit "one or twice."
But Mr Devonald told the court her actions were "over the top" and cruel.
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The video also family friend Paul Williams — whose wife Joanne owned Emry — kicking the tethered animal at rented stables at Glyngwernen Farm, near Llanelli.
Joanne has since given the pony to the RSPCA for rehoming.
Chloe Morgan's solicitor Richard Morgan said: "She has apologised and is remorseful. Some 23,000 people had criticised her actions on Facebook."
Morgan and Williams, 37, both of Llanelli, admitted causing cruelty to a protected animal and causing unnecessary suffering.
District Judge David Parsons said: "It is plain that this was a vicious assault on a pony for no reason whatsoever.
"You were not at risk of harm because the animal was tethered. It was a terrible offence and there were no excuses."
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Morgan was sentenced to three months in young offenders institution and Williams sentenced to four months' jail, but both sentences were suspended for 12 months.
They were also disqualified from keeping any animals for eight years and told to do 120 hours' community service.
After the case, RSPCA inspector Keith Hogben said: "I was horrified and disgusted when I saw what they did with this animal.
"I have seen this video so many times but I couldn't look at in court. There was no excuse.
"It was put on Facebook as a laugh but anyone who thought it was funny is beyond belief."
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