Benjamin Robert McDonald-Henman pleads guilty to animal charge

A man who filmed explicit footage of a woman with a dog and sent it to his mother has been fined.

A man who filmed explicit footage of a woman with a dog and sent it to his mother has been fined.

Benjamin Robert McDonald-Henman, 36, today pleaded guilty to one count of breach of duty of care to an animal by inappropriate handling.

Brisbane Magistrates Court heard the woman’s mother contacted police after she received footage of her daughter in explicit acts with a dog.

Benjamin Robert McDonald-Henman leaving Brisbane Magistrates Court. Picture: Liam Kidston

The footage had been sent to her by McDonald-Henman’s mother, the court heard.

Police prosecutor Serena Whitfield said officers attended McDonald-Henman’s Wavell Heights home and he admitted making the recordings.

“The defendant claimed that he sent the recording to his mother to show her an example of (the woman’s) conduct,” Ms Whitfield said.

“The mobile phone was seized and found to contain explicit video footage involving (the woman) and a dog as well as multiple photographs of (her) and the dog interacting sexually”.

McDonald-Henman’s Legal Aid lawyer said it was accepted her client owed a duty of care to the dog and the animal was not handled appropriately.

She said McDonald-Henman had pleaded guilty at the first available opportunity and had no relevant criminal history.

The court heard he worked on maintenance programs for oil and gas in Papua New Guinea and was subject to regular criminal background checks.

Chief Magistrate Terry Gardiner imposed a $2000 fine, double what prosecutors had sought.

“The seriousness of the offence is obvious,” he said.

A conviction was not recorded.

The woman was not charged.