Cornwall man shoots sister's donkey after row

A Cornishman has admitted shooting dead his sister's donkey after an argument.

Bodmin magistrates heard that Darrell Duffill shot donkey Claude in the temple with an air rifle, followed by two more shots as it lay on the ground.

Duffill, 54, who lives in a cabin on land owned by his sister near Looe, had drunk half a bottle of rum before the attack on Monday, the court heard.

Duffill admitted criminal damage and was remanded in custody to 23 March for probation reports to be prepared.

The court heard that Duffill's sister, Carolyn Jones, found the 10-year-old donkey in a pool of blood in his stable.

Despite the crime, defence solicitor Ramin Shamsolahi claimed in court that Duffill was an "animal lover".