Horse attack caught on camera

The man also kicked one of its hind legs before being arrested for animal cruelty last Thursday and bailed until December.

The crew of SY99 was over Harlington at 10.30pm when they spotted the men on the infrared camera.

They began capturing video evidence for wildlife officers Pcs Mark Winter and Paul Jameson when the attack happened.

Pc Winter said: “It’s a little known fact that we have officers who specialise in wildlife crime alongside their regular role but unfortunately in the large rural areas of South Yorkshire, wildlife crimes do occur.

“Poaching is a crime that can have a significant impact on rural communities.

“Without the assistance of the Air Operations Unit the men may not have been detained as the helicopter can scan vast areas of rural ground very quickly, something that officers on the ground can not do.

“Certainly, without the helicopter, one instance of animal cruelty would have gone undetected.”

SY99 directed the officers to the suspected poachers, who had been lamping—a term for shooting at night using lamps.

The other two men were dealt with for poaching offences and their equipment was confiscated.