Nico Pettigrew given payback order after punching a horse
An 18-year-old man has been ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid community work after he punched a horse.
The court heard how Nico Pettigrew attacked the animal while out walking with his friend in Scone, Perthshire.
He was found guilty of punching the animal, throwing stones at it and other offences including the smashing of a bus shelter in June 2012.
He was placed on an 18 month community payback order and told to attend drug treatment.
Perth Sheriff Court was told Pettigrew and his girlfriend were "giggling and joking" as she held out wheat to attract the horse.
Witness, Hilda Cochrane who was watching from a window at her home said Pettigrew then punched the horse in the face before it moved back.
She added: "The boy hurt his hand and went down holding it, it was terrible.
"The girl was laughing and joking. She did it again and the horse was quite cagey. The young guy got a brick or a stone and hit the horse."
Pettigrew admitted to throwing a stone into the field but claimed he had not hit the horse. He said he was not close enough to any horse to inflict pain on it.
Sheriff Michael Fletcher said he did not believe Pettigrew's version of events.
He found him guilty of breaching the peace by punching a horse, throwing stones at it and striking it on the body.
Pettigrew was also found guilty of smashing a bus shelter nearby shortly after the incident.
He also admitted to breach of the peace and shoplifting.