A man has been convicted of bestiality after he admitted to a sex act on a miniature horse at stables in Canberra.
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His defence lawyer said the man, 73, was "extremely remorseful" after he pleaded guilty to the offence and appeared in the ACT Magistrates Court for sentencing on Wednesday.
Police began investigating the offender in June last year after they received a referral from the RSPCA.
Court documents said the man was interviewed by police and made partial admissions to engaging in a sex act with his miniature horse.
He told police the offence involved the female miniature horse and had taken place in a stable at the end of 2012.
The man's lawyer described his client's behaviour as "somewhat inexplicable" and said the man had owned horses for 30 years, although he had sold many of them.
He asked the magistrate to take into account the offender's early guilty plea, his solid employment history and his otherwise good character.
The prosecutor argued the "repugnant" nature of the offence meant there was a need for general deterrence, but noted the man had co-operated with the investigation and had no relevant criminal history.
He pointed out the act had occurred in an area of the stables that could easily have been accessed by others and that the man was in a position of care for the horse involved.
Special Magistrate Maria Doogan told the court while the type of offence was serious, it was not common.
"I have not come across a matter like this in the past myself," she said.
Ms Doogan said there were numerous laws related to the care and respect a community should have towards animals and such behaviour needed to be condemned.
She recorded a conviction and ordered the man serve a 12-month good behaviour order.
