The court of cassation has thrown out an appeal lodged by a member of the public convicted of sexual acts with his neighbours’ dog. The defendant argued that the conviction was unsound because no penetration had occurred.
Home News
Court of cassation confirms verdict against neighbour who had sex with couple’s dog
Colin Clapson
Published:
A couple from Tielt (West Flanders) had asked their neighbour to look after the bully XL while they were on holiday, but on their return, reviewing CCTV footage, they discovered that their neighbour had committed sexual acts with their pet in their home. The neighbour let the dog lick his private parts and thrust his member against the animal’s behind as if he were copulating. They took the matter to the police and the neighbour received a 6 months’ suspended sentence and a fine from Ieper magistrates. The neighbour appealed and the Ghent appeal court decided to suspend passing of a sentence. The court found the defendant guilty, but he was not given any punishment.
The neighbour then took the matter to the court of cassation, arguing no sexual act had occurred, because there was no penetration, but the court reconfirmed the appeal court’s ruling pointing out Belgian animal welfare legislation did not require penetration for the offence to be committed.