A MAN was arrested on suspicion of being drunk in charge of a horse in the centre of Salisbury on Tuesday evening.

Police say a man attempted to mount a horse in Gigant Street and became aggressive when officers tried to arrest him.

A Taser was drawn but not fired in a bid to subdue the man, police said.

Johnny Carey, aged 30, of Oak Tree Field in Salisbury was arrested on suspicion of being drunk in charge of a horse, assaulting a police officer and a public order offence of using threatening words or behaviour and was taken to custody in Melksham.

He had a cut on his arm and was treated at Salisbury District Hospital.

He has since been charged with all three offences and bailed to appear at Salisbury Magistrates Court on July 14.

Officers were called by the RSPCA to an incident outside the Anchor and Hope pub in Winchester Street at 6.40pm after members of the public raised concerns over the horse’s welfare, police said.

One witness told the Journal: “I heard a kerfuffle. I heard horse hooves which is not a frequent sound in Gigant Street.”