Boys hurled lamb down steps of West Country tower and filmed it

Two teenage boys have pleaded guilty to animal cruelty after they were caught on camera throwing a lamb down the steps at a West Country landmark. The youths, who cannot be named for legal reasons, received nine-month referral orders following the incident in Somerset, the RSPCA reports.

Distressing footage which circulated on social media led to an RSPCA investigation and subsequent prosecution. In one particular video, a lamb was seen being tossed down the steps of the 52-step spiral staircase within the iconic 15-metre St Michael's Hill Tower in Montacute, close to Yeovil.

A veterinary professional, reviewing the videos as part of the RSPCA's case, stated that the lamb would have experienced pain, fear, and distress. The vet's statement, presented in court and disclosed by the RSPCA, noted: "Judging by the speed at which the lamb was moving it must have been thrown with considerable force."

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The three-second clip shows the lamb hurtling head-first down the steps, landing initially on its stretched-out front legs, Somerset Live reports. Due to the force, the lamb flipped over, hitting its head and face against a step before tumbling further and striking its back against a wall.

Though it remains unclear what happened to the lamb following the recording, a veterinarian has suggested that possibilities could include limb fractures, spinal injuries, head and neck fractures, concussion or other brain injuries, facial fractures, damage to internal organs, as well as bruising and damage to skin and muscles. In another unsettling video clip, the RSPCA said a youngster was seen throwing a different lamb over a stone wall.

The youths confessed during interviews to additional incidents involving the lambs, the RSPCA has revealed. Among these incidents were the spinning of a lamb before dropping it head-first to the ground, tripping lambs to make them tumble, hurling a lamb into the air and allowing it to drop on its belly, unbalancing lambs by kicking their legs from under them, and enclosing a lamb inside a tree guard as its distressed mother bleated for it.

'Their purpose was entertainment'

The vet concluded: "It is my professional opinion that the pain, suffering and injuries to the lambs were caused deliberately. The suffering of these poor animals was completely unnecessary, and sadly, the purpose of the actions of these youths was their entertainment."

An RSPCA spokesperson added: "Just like us, animals feel pain, distress and fear. Every animal deserves kindness and respect and a life safe from mistreatment."

A referral order is the community sentence most often used by the courts when dealing with 10 to 17 year olds, particularly for first-time offenders who plead guilty. Referral orders require that an offender must agree to a contract of rehabilitative and restorative elements to be completed within the sentence.

The two boys were prosecuted under S4 (1) of the Animal Welfare Act 2006, and S8 of the Accessories and Abettors Act 1861.