A monster who used two ponies as target practice for his powerful crossbow was jailed for two years today.

Mark Telford was condemned as "dangerous" as a court heard how he lived out SAS fantasies by firing at innocent animals.

Police raided his home after the attack on the ponies and found that he was making a copy of an M16 assault rifle, intending to use it to bring more misery to defenceless creatures.

Telford has a sick obsession with the SAS and boasted he had mastered the crack unit's techniques in bringing down animals.

Most of his hatred was directed at animals but on one occasion he even shot a child who was running down the street outside his home.

He was condemned as "sick and twisted" by the owners of Prince and Frisco, two show ponies which were grazing in a field when he shot them with 18 inch steel bolts.

Telford used a Commando 2 crossbow in the attack - one of the most powerful in the world.

The horses were found cowering by their owner David Scott, 42, the following morning with the bolts lodged inside them.

Pipefitter Telford, 28, denied the attack but at an earlier hearing at Newcatsle Crown Court was found guilty of two charges of damaging property.

The court had heard how Prince had been shot in the head while the shaft of another bolt was sticking out of Frisco's neck.

Telford attacked the animals after a night of drinking at a deserted mine shaft with his friend Thomas Harris on March 11 2000.

The court heard how the pair argued "not about anything" as they made their way home from the drinking session and Telford stormed off.

He was carrying with him a crossbow and arrows that the men had used for shooting ply-wood targets during the early part of the night.

The horses' owner returned to their field in Whickham, Gateshead, Tyne and Wear, the following morning and was horrified to see Frisco, a three year old mare and five-year-old Prince with bolts sticking out of their bodies.

Prosecutor Sarah Mallett told the court: "At about 11.30 the following morning David Scott returned to the field to tend to the horses.

"He was initially surprised by the way the horses were standing, not in their usual group.

"Mr Scott found to his shock and surprise both of the two horses had been shot with crossbow bolts and both had the bolts still in them.

"One was lodged in the neck just behind the shoulders and the other one in his skull. The horses were shocked and needed the vet and a vet was called.

"On his arrest the defendant said he was knowledgeable about methods used by the SAS in survival techniques and how to bring down and kill animals.

"He accepted he had an interest in that and accepted he took arrows to the area but denied shooting the "bastard" horses".

The horses, once valued at around oe3,000 each are now believed to be worth £350 and £500.

Prince was left suffering eye problems and Frisco is now an "extremely nervous" horse.

The ponies belong to Mr Scott's five children, Bridy, 17, Kelly, 16, Kirstey, 14, Shawney-Lee, 11, and Connell, five.

The children's mother, Lesley Scott, 37, said: "The horses are slowly making some kind of recovery from what happened to them.

"When Frisco was shot in the side I think he was trying to protect the young horse in the field, Ruby."

Bridy, 17, said: "I haven't been able to take them out or ride them at all since they were shot.

"Prince has definitely lost some of his sight, he has to turn his whole head just to look at something.

"Frisco is now really wary and nervous. I think it is sick and twisted that someone can enjoy hurting animals.

"He got a buzz out of it and that is just horrifying."

Telford, of Wordsworth Avenue, Whickham, Gateshead, was jailed for two years after being convicted of damaging property and he admitted manufacturing a firearm, possessing an unlawful firearm and possesson of the crossbow and bolts.

The court heard Telford designed a gun to replicate an M16 assault rifle, which he had seen in his SAS magazines.

Police found the half completed weapon in a box when they raided his home.

In 1994 Telford admitted assault after shooting a child in the arm with an air rifle.

He ran out to chase children who had gathered outside his home and fired a shot at the younster.

In 1998 he was charged with possessing an unlicenced air rifle which he had used for shooting trout.

Judge Tony Lancaster said: "You were found guilty of shooting two horses in a field with a crossbow.

"The horses must have suffered considerable pain but they have survived.

"Significantly, you have not been charged with animal cruelty but you have been charged with the damage of property, that property being two living horses.

"You are a man who is fascinated with killing animals and you have an unhealthy interest with the SAS.

"You are described by the probation officer as dangerous. You used your skills as a plumber to manufacture a firearm and that firearm imitated an M16 rifle.

"I believ that your fascination would have got the better of you and in my view you would have used that weapon in the future to kill animals.

"I accept that you made no use of the weapon and there was no ammunition found with it.

"For all these matters there is only one sentence this court can impsoe and that is an immediate custodial sentence.

"I hope that if you ever apply for a weapons licence the chief of police considers my sentencing.

"You are the wrong sort of person to lawfully possess a firearm."

He ordered the forfeiture and destruction of the crossbow and bolts and the half made gun.

He was jailed for 20 months for manufacturing the gun, a further 20 months to run concurrently for possessing the gun, three months for shooting the horses to run concurrently and four months for possession of the crossbow and bolts, to run consecutively; a total of 24 months.