'Sadistic' horse slasher jailed for stabbing and strangling animals

26 September 2023 , 13:45

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Luke Ward, 37, was sentenced to 45 months in prison (Image: West Yorkshire Police / SWNS)

A "sadistic" man has been jailed after stabbing, slashing and strangling horses in a field.

Luke Ward, 37, caused "serious injuries" to the animals and even tied a shoelace tightly around a 35-year-old pony's neck in an attempt to strangle it. Three horses were also injured, including one that had a deep cut and long slash to the side of its neck. One was found with a three to four inch laceration to the face.

A knife with an eight inch blade was discovered at the scene in Farnley, West Yorkshire, and forensic analysis found Ward’s DNA on it. Ward, who lived opposite the farm at the time of the incident, denied being involved when he was interviewed about the incident, which happened in July last year.

He was charged with four offences of causing unnecessary suffering to an animal, and admitted the offences during an earlier hearing at Leeds Crown Court. Yesterday, he was sentenced to 45 months in prison. He was also banned from keeping or owning any animal for life.

One horse suffered a deep cut and long slash to the side of its neck (Tammy Render/MEN MEDIA)

One of the animal's owners described the attack as "incomprehensible" (Tammy Render/MEN MEDIA)

Judge Simon Phillips KC, sitting, described Ward's actions as "sadistic" and said they had caused distress to the animals and their owners, who faced vets bills running into hundreds of pounds. The horse yard had also increased security and installed a £1,000 CCTV system.

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One of the animal's owners said they felt "sickened and disgusted" by the attack, which they described as "incomprehensible". And PC Rachel Harrison, who investigated the offences, said Ward left the horses in "significant pain and distress." She said: “Ward targeted these defenceless animals and caused serious injuries to them which left them in significant pain and distress.

"He has not explained his actions and we can only assume that he derived some sense of satisfaction from inflicting these injuries on them. As well as the pain and distress caused to the horses, these incidents also caused upset to the owners and understandable concern in the local community.

"When he was interviewed, Ward denied the offences and said that he had grown up with horses and would never hurt any animal, but the forensic evidence linked him to the scene and resulted in his guilty pleas. We hope it will provide some reassurance to the victims and to the wider community to know that he has now had to answer for his actions."

Andrew Robinson