Sydney man pleads guilty to shooting at domestic goats near Bredbo

Domestic goats (not pictured) were illegally shot on a rural property near Bredbo, south of Canberra. Photo: NSW DPI.

Several domestic goats had to be euthanised after being shot at on the Monaro by a Sydney man who admitted he fired on the animals.

Tony Bassil, 67, entered guilty pleas in the Cooma Local Court on Wednesday (8 December) to charges of committing an act of cruelty on an animal, seriously injuring an animal and shooting a firearm in a manner that could injure persons or property.

Magistrate Roger Clisdell accepted the pleas and adjourned the matter for sentencing to 21 December in Sydney.

Originally, NSW Police said Bassil used a rifle to shoot at a herd of domestic goats at a property in Colinton, south of Canberra near Bredbo, and injured several of the animals on 28 September.

Six goats had to be euthanised due to the extent of their injuries.

At the time, police also alleged he did not have permission to shoot the goats on the property and he put the landholder in danger by shooting there.