Two teenagers who shot and killed two Shetland ponies belonging to a nursing home in Whitchurch have been given a custodial sentence.

Daniel Walker, 18, of Dodington, Whitchurch, and a 15-year-old youth, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were sentenced yesterday at Shrewsbury Crown Court for their part in the attacks on the ponies between May 3 and 4 last year. The pair had gone out and shot the ponies in a paddock.

It happened at Edgeley House Nursing and Residential Home in Whitchurch.

Both teenagers had at an earlier hearing admitted carrying a firearm with intent to commit criminal damage and unlawfully carrying a firearm with ammunition in a public place.

The 15-year-old had also previously admitted entering a property in Whitchurch and stealing firearms.

Dangerous

Sentencing the pair yesterday, Judge Nicholas Mitchell said the most serious offence was both had admitted possessing a firearm with intent.

For that offence Walker was sentenced to four years in a young offenders’ institution. The judge said although Walker was older, the youth was the “prime mover” in the offence.

He said he believed the youth was a dangerous offender.

For the protection of the public, the judge ordered the youth to serve a minimum of two years in custody before he will be considered for discharge for the possessing of a firearm with intent offence.

The youth had broken into his father’s house and locked firearms cabinet and removed a rifle and a shotgun.

He invited Walker to his house to “show off” and both proceeded to discharge the weapons in the back garden.

Later that night they armed themselves and took potshots at street lights before going to the paddock and shooting the ponies.

The judge told the youth he seemed to take “a sadistic pleasure” from the animals’ suffering.

By Iain St John