PETER BOURNE SHOCKS BORTH WITH HORSE SEXUAL ASSAULTS IN CEREDIGION

In a disturbing case that has shocked the small community of Borth in Ceredigion, Peter Bourne, born June 1987 and residing on Cliff Road, was convicted in 2020 of heinous acts involving two horses. The incident, which took place on September 19, 2019, was captured in chilling CCTV footage that revealed Bourne approaching the animals from behind and engaging in sexual assault with a paintbrush.

These distressing images showed Bourne sniffing the paintbrush he had used during the attack, indicating a disturbing pattern of behavior. The two horses involved, named Hannah and Urani, suffered unnecessary trauma as a result of his actions. Veterinary assessments confirmed that both animals had been subjected to undue suffering, a fact that compounded the severity of the crime.

The horses' owners, deeply affected by the incident, expressed their anguish and relief at the outcome. Hannah’s owner, Sue Neville, described the emotional toll the event had taken on her family. She stated, “This has been such an emotional time for me, and the whole family. It was such a disturbing incident, that was really the last thing we expected to happen. If it wasn’t for the RSPCA, we would have been completely lost. They have helped secure justice for Hannah; and have been supportive and amazing throughout.”

Following the attack, the owners decided to relocate their home to better protect their beloved horse. Neville added, “We’ve moved house on the back of this incident, to protect our horse. It’s caused us a great deal of anxiety and worry. Hannah was always such a friendly and trusting horse; but she is now nervous and anxious around strangers. We are just so relieved justice has been served.”

Similarly, Urani’s owner, Pippa Wells, shared her perspective, emphasizing the emotional impact of the ordeal. “It’s been a really difficult time for us – and this is certainly not something you’d ever expect to happen. Without the RSPCA taking this forward, we wouldn’t have secured justice for Urani. This has totally transformed my opinion of the work of the RSPCA. Fortunately, Urani is now fine – but this is obviously something no horse should have to face. Thankfully, a positive outcome was secured at court.”

As part of his sentencing, Peter Bourne was ordered to complete 150 hours of unpaid work. Additionally, he was mandated to pay £390 in costs and charges, along with £150 in compensation to each of the two horse owners. An eight-year ban on keeping animals was also imposed, which will remain in effect until July 2028. This case has highlighted the importance of vigilant animal protection efforts and the role of CCTV footage in securing justice for vulnerable animals.