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Robert Newman, 23, launched the night time attack on the animal in a barn in Devizes. The defence said his act was one of "isolation, not depravity".

Anna Humphreys, prosecuting, said Newman carried out the attack in the dark at a barn in Devizes.

Reading a victim impact statement from the goat's female owner, who was not named, Miss Humphreys said:

"My husband is worried about me being on the farm on my own.

"We have also had to pay for vets fees and antibiotics for the injuries sustained by the goat."

North West Wiltshire Magistrates' Court in Chippenham was told the goat required treatment for injuries sustained during the assault.

Newman, of Devizes, initially denied a charge of having sex with a living animal between April 5 and 16 this year.

But he later changed his plea and admitted the attack, contrary to the Sexual Offences Act 2003, on August 19.

Magistrates today jailed Newman for six weeks for the offence after hearing a victim impact statement from the goats' owners.

The attack happened when Newman was the subject of a suspended sentence, which was imposed in August last year after committing a burglary.

Gail Chilcott, chair of the bench, activated the eight week suspended sentence and jailed Newman for six weeks for the goat attack.

Mrs Chilcott told Newman: "Mr Newman you have repeatedly breached all court orders handed to you.

"This is your second breach of your suspended court order.

"We are therefore activating the suspension and you will go to prison for eight weeks.

"For this offence today you will serve six weeks.

"That will be concurrent rather than consecutive because we accept this is an isolated incident."

Defending, Anne Ellery told the court Newman's actions were a "symptom of isolation rather than depravity".

Miss Ellery said: "This is a young man suffering from isolation.

"His understanding of what happened is unknown to him.

"Treatment is certainly something that he will need to seek.

"His delay in admitting the behaviour is because of the embarrassment and shame that went with it."

The court heard Newman has previous convictions, including two for house burglary.

"This is an offence which is the first of its kind," Miss Ellery said. "It is isolated and has not happened before."

Miss Ellery read a statement from Newman to the court.

It said: "I don't want to be this bad person anymore, I just want to get on with my life and do good.

"I want to stand before you and say I am sorry and I just want to be back with my family."

Newman, wearing a black coat and shirt, remained emotionless as he was led to the cells.

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