Limestone Coast farmer accused of bestiality denied permission to return to farm to ‘look after his animals’

An SA farmer accused of bestiality has appeared in court, asking for permission to return to work to “look after his animals”.

A view of the Mt Gambier Magistrates Court.

A Limestone Coast man charged with bestiality has asked a court to allow him to return to work with animals on his farm.

Shaun Wayne Taylor, 49, from Lowan Vale, about 17km northwest of Bordertown, appeared in Mount Gambier Magistrates Court on Tuesday, seeking to have his bail conditions changed so he could “look after his animals”.

The court heard Mr Taylor was a farmer by trade and under his bail agreement, was not permitted to be near animals because of the nature of his charges.

Detectives from the Special Crimes Investigation section arrested Mr Taylor on December 22, 2023, after a police investigation into an unrelated offence.

The alleged offending was discovered after an examination of his electronic devices during the unrelated investigation.

He was granted bail but banned from returning to his farm.

On Tuesday, the court heard Mr Taylor would contest the charges and that he wished to return to his farm to care for the animals on his property.

Prosecution said they were greatly opposed to the request because to the nature of Mr Taylor’s alleged offending and that Mr Taylor was charged with “bestiality involving animals”

“Without going into too much detail, farming is at the heart of the offending so we are greatly opposed to changing the bail agreements,” the prosecutor said.

Magistrate Koula Kossiavelos agreed with the prosecution and denied Mr Taylor’s request.

She said he could employ “other means to look after his animals” such as farmhands and that due to “the heart of the offending”, she was not comfortable granting him permission to return to the farm.

Mr Taylor is next set to appear in court in July.