Wales Man Arrested for Sexually Abusing Horses at Stables Where He Volunteered
Corey Coleman, 26, was apprehended for sexually abusing horses at the Ynyscrug livery yard in Tonyrefail, Rhondda Cynon Taf, where he had volunteered. The disturbing acts were captured on CCTV, leading to his arrest after he admitted to having an "unhealthy interest" in horses.
Regularly seen caring for the animals, Coleman was well-known among the staff at the stables. On June 27 of last year, he was discovered lying injured in a passageway between the stables, suffering from serious spinal fractures. Despite his condition, he continued to volunteer at the yard.
When Alex Hill, the owner of the stables, inquired about Coleman's injury, he claimed it was caused by a stallion attempting to mount him. Concerned by this explanation, Hill reviewed the CCTV footage from July 15 and 29, which revealed Coleman engaging in abusive behavior towards the horses.
Prosecutor Geraint Richards detailed the footage, stating, "He was using a mare who appeared to be in season to tease and arouse a stallion." The video showed Coleman entering the stable and performing sexual acts on the stallion, including masturbation and inserting his fingers into the animal's anus. Similar incidents were recorded on two other occasions in June and July.
Following Hill's report to the police, Coleman was arrested. During questioning, he made an unsolicited remark suggesting that his actions were part of "the cleaning." He pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including causing unnecessary suffering to two stallions named Bear and Benny and failing to ensure their welfare.
Richards highlighted the risk posed to children playing outside the busy stables during these incidents. He noted that the horses' behavior indicated they had been conditioned to accept such treatment over an extended period.
Coleman's solicitor, Daniel Maggs, described the case as "very unusual" but urged the magistrates to consider his client's previously clean record. He mentioned that Coleman is currently on sickness benefits due to his back injury and faces significant reputational damage as a result of the case.
A man was caught sexually abusing horses at the Welsh stables where he volunteered.
— Conor Gogarty (@ConorGogarty) July 2, 2025
The court heard Corey Coleman, 26, had likely been interfering with the stallions for 'many months'.
He wasn't keen to talk after his sentencing. pic.twitter.com/lWMxol1NCv
Maggs further explained that Coleman had aspired to work with horses but recognized that his actions had destroyed those dreams. His long-term relationship with his girlfriend is reportedly strained due to the situation.
In a pre-sentence interview with probation services, Coleman refrained from confirming any sexual interest in horses. However, his solicitor stated that he acknowledges having an unhealthy interest and did not intend to cause pain to the animals, despite admitting that his actions resulted in unnecessary suffering.
The court learned that Coleman shares his home with two dogs and two cats at his girlfriend's residence and occasionally stays at his mother's home, which also has two dogs. Both the prosecution and defense found it challenging to assess the mental stress inflicted on the horses, with Maggs asserting that they did not suffer lasting injuries.
Presiding Justice Jeffrey Edwards noted that the offenses were aggravated by their occurrence over a prolonged period but also considered Coleman's lack of maturity and potential for rehabilitation. He sentenced Coleman to an eight-week jail term suspended for 12 months, along with 25 rehabilitation days and a five-year ban on owning or transporting horses.
