Maison John Alexander Booth: Man pleads guilty to animal cruelty acts in Howatharra

A Rockingham man has pleaded guilty to two charges relating to the death and injury of several cows that were run down by a vehicle on a farm north of Geraldton.

Maison John Alexander Booth appeared in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Thursday, travelling from his Perth home to make his court date.

Police said Booth deliberately ran over several calves in Howatharra on August 20 at a private property, which had been a popular track frequented by surfers.

Carnarvon police have also charged a 22-year-old Glenfield man, Jasper William Hartree, over the incident.

Property leaseholders Calvin and Karen Royce closed access due to the “vile actions of a few” after she found some of her cows had suffered injuries.

“One suffered a broken back and remained alive until put out of its misery. Five days that calf suffered. The other was dismembered,” she said on a Facebook post.

“Such horrific acts.”

In his brief appearance, Booth pleaded guilty to one count of criminal damage or destruction of property, and one count of ill treating an animal contrary the Animal Welfare Act.

Detective Superintendent Peter Foley said last month the footage was shocking.

“We are aware of a video circulating online depicting what can only be described as an abhorrent act of animal cruelty,” he said.

“The vision is confronting and we take incidents of this nature extremely seriously.

“Animal cruelty has no place in our society and is something that will not be tolerated by the WA Police Force.”

Booth is set to be sentenced in Geraldton Magistrates Court on Monday, December 16.