A man who was caught on video ruthlessly beating his horse was yesterday cleared of animal cruelty after a court ruled he was acting to stop the animal from biting an 18-month-old girl.

The police had instituted proceedings against Elton Saliba, 37, from Mosta, after the video of the May 2014 incident went viral on social media. Magistrate Audrey Demicoli heard that the man from the outset told the police he was worried the animal would hurt the toddler, so he used the whip to control the horse until the child’s father arrived.

Mr Saliba also testified that the footage was recorded and posted on the internet by his former Ukrainian girlfriend. He claimed she was angry at him for refusing to marry her, having to leave Malta as a result.

The magistrate found that Mr Saliba had no criminal intention to hurt the horse. Moreover, the video brought as evidence was so short that none of the experts could determine whether it had suffered.

Police Inspector Nicholas Vella prosecuted while lawyers Franco Debono and Amadeus Cachia appeared for the man.