Pony sacrificed in bizarre full moon ritual

A SATANIC cult has been blamed for the death of a pony mutilated in a ring of fire during a full moon.

Police are investigating after the colt had its genitals and right ear sliced off and tongue and eyes cut out - possibly while it was alive.

The pony's belly had been hacked open and there were traces of white paint on one leg - suggesting it was killed as part of a bizarre ceremony.

It was also surrounded by circular patches of but moorland - which experts believe were left by a ring of torches or candles.

The two-month-old pony seemed to have been dragged into a clearing and placed at the foot of a slope to face the full moon. It was found on Tuesday moing by a horse rider in a remote area of the Dartmoor National Park in Devon, United Kingdom.

Karla McKechnie, Dartmoor's livestock protection officer, said she feared devil worshippers were behind the ritualistic killing.

She said: \"We do get strange things happening from time to time, normally when it's a full moon.

\"I've come across strange circles in the ground, boulders used as altars, that sort of thing, but thankfully animal mutilations are rare. I suspect it's witches or devil worshippers but it's always hard to get to the bottom of it.\"

Devon Police have appealed for information.