WARNING DISTRESSING CONTENT: Jordan Turnbull, 33, who committed vile acts with two Shetland ponies, has sparked outrage after it emerged he has opened a pet shop
A man who was jailed for having sex with horses is now running a pet shop, its emerged.
Jordan Turnbull, 33, was put on the sex offender register after he was convicted of committing sick acts against two Shetland ponies.
However its emerged he was granted a licence by council chiefs to sell exotic fish in Armadale, West Lothian, the Sun reports. One angry customer said: “I felt ill when I found out who he was.”
Disgusted locals have announced they are planning to boycott the shop which was opened by Turnbull after he was caged for the vile beastiality crimes.
In a grim move Turnbull even named the business after an ancient goddess known as the “mistress of horses.”
The registered sex offender is one of the three directors at Astarte Aquarium – an exotic fish specialist.
The aquarium is named after the Middle Eastern goddess “Astate” who was worshipped more than 3000 years ago as a goddess of “sexual love, war and power.”
The goddess was often depicted riding horses while naked. Locals have been left disgusted by the revelation.
One said: “This has to be a very sick joke, surely? But no one is laughing about it. I felt sick when I found out who he was.”
A fuming ex-customer said: “I have no idea how a man convicted of having sex with an animal and put on the sex offenders register got permission to open a shop which deals with looking after and selling animals.
“What is even more messed up is he’s named the pet shop after a Greek goddess known for loving horses.”
A third commented: “I’ve been in there plenty of times — never again.”
Turnbull was appointed to the position of director of the firm last October prior to the aquarium’s opening.
Back in 2021 he was locked up after he admitted to being part of a horse sexual abuse ring with two other men.
The 33-year-old admitted he had a “unnatural connection” with horses and was convicted after abusing two ponies at an Aberdeenshire farm
He was added to the sex offenders register for a decade and is set to remain on it until 2031.
News of Turnbull’s conviction has spread across social media leading the aquarium to issue a response on Facebook. The shop stated: “We are not going to hide from the fact this happened.
“The matter went through the criminal justice system several years ago and the sentence imposed by the court was served.
“Astarte Aquarium was established afterwards.
“We ask people to judge us on the business we operate today — the welfare and standard of care provided to the animals in our shop, the condition of our premises and the contribution we try to make to our community.”
A spokesman has stated discussions were “ongoing” about removing Turnbull from the firm.
The spokesman added: “Removing a director of a company cannot be done instantly.”
Astarte Aquarium has been approached for comment.