ANIMAL rights activists have criticised the Sunday Sport’s coverage of Guernsey’s recent horse abuse case.

GSPCA director of operations Jayne Le Cras attacked its article on the sentencing of horse molester Leeroy Le Gallais as sensationalist trash.

‘It’s gutter press,’ she said.

‘The article’s absolute rubbish, as is the newspaper.’

Le Gallais was found guilty of attempting an indecent act on 23-year-old gelding Calico at Les Landelles, Castel, last October.

The tabloid’s full-page report claimed the three-year probation order on him was too lenient and would encourage others to come to Guernsey to do the same.

‘Surely no self-respecting Guernsey person would read this rubbish – you’ve only got to look at the adverts along the remainder of the page,’ said Ms Le Cras.

‘It’s pathetic. I think you’ve got to be a certain type of person to read it and they’re in the minority.’

About 100 editions of the paper were sold in Guernsey on Sunday, with almost 100,000 in the UK.

Sunday Sport journalist Ian Leonard tried more than five times to get a comment from the GSPCA.

‘We didn’t want the organisation’s name associated with the Sunday Sport, which is why we didn’t comment.’

Animal Aid founder Sue Vidamour said it was a ‘grim’ article and created a ‘horrible image’ of Guernsey.

She added that there was no justice for animals in the island and her thoughts were with the family who owned the horse.

‘To some people, these animals are part of your family.

‘It’s not only a dreadful thing to happen in the first place, but you’re also concerned it’s going to happen again.’

Ms Vidamour called for a review of laws covering

animal rights.

‘They’re toothless – animals come way down the list. A lot of cruelty cases just go unnoticed by the public.’

Commerce and Employment director of marketing and tourism Chris Elliott was not worried by the article.

‘I don’t see it as having an impact on our visitor economy