A French court sentenced an Afghan man to 30 months in prison for sexually abusing sheep and goats near Marseille. The French court also ordered the deportation of Afghani after completion of his prison sentence.
The offences occurred between February and April this year at a local animal shelter. Staff members first became suspicious after discovering animals with tied legs, visible injuries, and clear signs of trauma. Consequently, they reported the incidents to the authorities for further investigation.
Veterinarian Confirms Abuse
A veterinarian later examined the affected animals and confirmed evidence of sexual abuse. Shelter owner Cassandra Sortino said the animals appeared terrified and suffered severe injuries. She described the incidents as deeply disturbing and said the abuse left lasting physical and emotional harm.
Meanwhile, investigators reviewed surveillance footage from the shelter. The recordings showed the suspect entering the property several times during the investigation period. Police eventually arrested him while he was allegedly in a compromising situation with a goat.
Investigation Leads to Conviction
Furthermore, investigators collected DNA evidence and examined the suspect’s mobile phone data. Both pieces of evidence linked him directly to the crimes. Prosecutors told the court that at least five goats and one six-month-old lamb were assaulted. One of the injured goats later died because of its injuries.
During the one-hour court hearing, the defendant denied all allegations. He claimed he was a “normal person” and rejected responsibility for the offences. However, the court found the forensic evidence and surveillance footage sufficient to support a conviction. As a result, the judges imposed a 30-month prison sentence and directed French authorities to deport the offender after he serves his term.
Meta description: French court jails Afghan man for 30 months over animal abuse near Marseille and orders deportation after sentence completion.
