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Teenager pleads guilty at Leeds Crown Court to attempted sexual offence involving a Shetland pony

Thomas Mikaelson, 19, admitted attempting to allow sexual penetration by a living animal at a Huddersfield-area farm in August 2025. Sentencing is set for 17 November.

2 outlets · 1L · 0C · 1R First reported Account updated
Image: Metro
Image: Daily Express

1 / 2

The story, neutrally told

Thomas Mikaelson, 19, pleaded guilty at Leeds Crown Court on Wednesday 30 September to attempting to allow sexual penetration by a living animal. The offence involved a Shetland pony called Cheeky at Gledhill Farm in Almondbury, near Huddersfield, on 24 August 2025. Mikaelson denied a second charge of recklessly trespassing to commit a sexual offence.

Prosecutor Robert Galley told the court the Crown accepted the pleas and asked for the second charge to lie on file. The Express explains that lying on file is used when prosecuting a charge is not in the public interest, though it could be reinstated later. Judge Phillips KC said the farmer had supplied a victim impact statement and should be able to attend the sentencing hearing, adding that the case had affected the farm and those who run it.

Sentencing was adjourned to 17 November, with Mikaelson bailed, so the Probation Service can prepare a report on the risk posed to the public. The judge cautioned that the adjournment should not be taken as an indication of the eventual sentence. Both outlets say Mikaelson covered their face or head at court.

Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.

Left1 outlet

Framing
Short court report leading with the admission, with the judge's remarks quoted at length and a description of the defendant's clothes.
Emphasis
The judge's words, including the caution that adjourning is no indication of sentence.
Leaves out or plays down
Does not give the defendant's home area or explain what 'lie on file' means.
Charged language
“The pervert”
For example
“The pervert denied another charge of recklessly trespassing to commit a relevant sexual offence.” — Metro

Centre0 outlets

No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.

Right1 outlet

Framing
Straightforward court report that uses the defendant's age and the word 'man', adds the defendant's home area and explains the legal term 'lie on file'.
Emphasis
Procedural detail and the probation report; credits YorkshireLive for the judge's remarks.
Leaves out or plays down
Omits the judge's caution about the sentence and the bail detail.
For example
“Mikaelson, of Lowerhouses in Huddersfield, pleaded guilty at Leeds Crown Court” — Daily Express