Adelaide man high on drugs had sex with dog

An Adelaide man was high on methamphetamines when he filmed himself having sex with a friend’s dog. WARNING: Disturbing content

WARNING: Disturbing content

A South Australian man who pleaded guilty to one count of committing bestiality has been spared further jail time, receiving a suspended sentence for committing a sexual act on a friend’s dog.

On Thursday, the Adelaide District Court was told Anthony Dennis Stokes, 51, was using methamphetamines when he filmed himself performing sex acts with and on the dog.

Judge Timothy Heffernan said the offending, between January and September 2019, involved a dog belonging to a woman Stokes met in 2018.

He had stayed at the woman’s home for a brief period in 2019, as he helped her move house.

In June 2020, the woman found an SD card in her new home that she did not recognise.

After accessing it, she discovered a video of Stokes engaging in a sexual act with her dog.

The video showed Stokes touching the dog’s genitalia and encouraging the dog to lick his own.

The dog’s owner was “distressed and sickened” by the video and alerted police, who arrested Stokes in November 2020.

A South Australian man has filmed himself engaging in sex acts with a friend’s dog. Picture: iStock

Judge Heffernan said Mr Stokes had declined to answer police questioning but indicated he did know what they were referring to.

The court was told, prior to the offending, Mr Stokes had started using methylamphetamines and had lost his job.

“It has been apparent to me since your first appearance in this court that you are profoundly ashamed and embarrassed by your conduct,” Judge Heffernan said.

“This offence occurred on an occasion when you were significantly under the influence on methylamphetamines.

“You did something that you would not, without the drugs, ever have contemplated doing.

“That you were under the influence of methylamphetamine does not excuse your conduct, it does not make it any less serious a breach of the law than it is, but it does perhaps explain what would otherwise be unfathomable behaviour on your part.”

He has been spared jail. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Dean Martin

Judge Heffernan said Stokes had instructed his counsel to place him at the hands of the court and allow any kind of sentence deemed necessary.

“There is no evidence that the animal was in any distress or pain because of your actions,” he said.

“I am satisfied that you were not motivated in committing the offence by any genuine sexual attraction to the dog but rather by the impact of your methylamphetamine's intoxication.”

He said the act caused significant upset to the dog’s owner, and there was a need to protect the community from this kind of offence.

“The only appropriate sentence is to impose a term of imprisonment, and I sentence you to three months imprisonment,” Judge Heffernan said.

After applying the discount for Mr Stokes’ early plea, his sentence was reduced to two months, 17 days.

That sentence was suspended subject to a good behaviour bond.

Originally published as Adelaide man high on drugs had sex with dog