German court upholds ban on bestiality, ruling it does not violate the right to 'sexual self-determination'

Sex with animals has been a crime in Germany since 2012 - and carries a fine of €25,000 (£19,440)

The Federal Constitutional Court in Germany upheld the ban (Getty Images)

A legal bid to overturn a law banning sex with animals has been thrown out by a German court.

The case launched by a man and woman - identified only as Mrs S and Mr F - who “feel sexually attracted to animals” argued that Germany’s bestiality laws violate their right to “sexual self-determination”.

But the Federal Constitutional Court of Germany upheld the ban on Thursday saying “the protection of the well-being of animals by guarding [them] from unnatural sexual assaults is a legitimate goal”.

Judges found the law - which prohibits anything which would force an animal into “unnatural behaviour” - was proportionate and did not violate their right to sexual expression.

The law was first passed by the Bundestag - the lower house of the German parliament - in 2012 after it had technically been legal since 1969.

It is classes sexual acts with animals as a misdemeanour and can carry a maximum fine of €25,000 (£19,440).

Bestiality is only legal in a few European states after Sweden and Denmark followed Germany in outlawing the practice in 2013 and 2015.

Additional reporting by AP