David with his son David and the horse. Picture: Mercury Press
A DAD branded “shameful” for not getting a horse owner’s consent when the nag photobombed his toddler’s picture has been told he will get to keep the holiday the hilarious shot won him.
David Bellis and three-year-old Jacob were left heartbroken after the owner said they didn’t have permission to take a snap of her pet — and feared they may not be able to go on the £2000 ($4100) trip.
But competition organisers Thomson have now assured the 31-year-old and his son they will be jetting off.
“Our Blue Monday competition was meant to make people smile on what’s been deemed the most depressing day of the year,” a spokesperson for Thomson said.
“We can confirm that despite questions over foal play, Mr Bellis and his family will still be receiving their holiday. And we’re sure they will hoof a good time.”
David, who took the picture while walking in fields around Prestatyn, North Wales, UK, estimates he has since received around 1000 messages of support in relation to the row after Nicola’s demand he hand over half the winnings.
“I was really worried for a while when the row erupted and I thought Thomson might take the holiday back off us,” he said.
“Jacob was in tears as he thought he was no longer going to get to go on holiday — and it was going to be our family’s first time away together. But I’m so relieved to hear that we can still go. I’m really pleased and we’re really looking forward to it.
“I would also like to say I hope the family affected by this are OK as I am a family man myself and never meant any harm when we took the photo. We never thought it would cause any issues for anyone.
“I’ve had hundreds of messages, probably about a 1000 to be honest, and all of them have been so supportive. One man even told me if we have the holiday taken off us he would have paid for another as he is a travel agent. Thankfully we won’t have to take him up on the offer now.”
Horse owner Nicola Mitchell threatened to lodge a complaint with the holiday firm to say she never gave her consent for the family to take photos of Betty the horse.
“I was really annoyed to hear he had won a £2,000 holiday and had used a picture of our horse without our permission. He should have asked for our consent,” Nicola said.
“It’s not like it’s just £100. £2,000 is a lot of money and would go quite a long way for a family.
Horse owner Nicola (right) with daughter Katelyn. Picture: Mercury PressSource:Supplied
“There should be some token of gesture as it is our horse that has really won them the holiday.
“I didn’t even know that this competition was on. If I had known about it we would have entered it ourselves and could have won as Betty is always sticking out her tongue.”
Many people were outraged by Nicola’s bad sportsmanship, taking to social media to slam the “jealous” mum-of-three.
Chris Beattie, who later offered to pay for the pair’s holiday if Thomson hadn’t followed through, said: “If this photo was taken on a public path then the father doesn’t need consent from the owner.
“If the animal was not to be photographed then it should have been kept away from public view. By having it on show in this way that would be considered implied consent.”
Olivia Joyce wrote: “Wow, what a jealous woman! Says it all when she says she didn’t know the competition was running or she would’ve entered, very envious clearly! How spiteful!”
Kayleigh Melissa added: “Miserable cow she’s acting like the horse is famous! If it’s on a field of course people are gonna have pictures with it!”
Speaking before the good news, David, from Prestatyn, North Wales, said: “I just think it’s sad that rather than being happy for me that I won a holiday someone’s automatic thought it that they have been cheated out of something.
“I think they are just jealous that I have won something nice — it just shows how bitter people can be.”
Mum-of-three Nicola bought the horse Betty for her daughter Katelyne three years ago and Betty has since been taught to stick out her tongue.
Nicola Mitchell’s dad Phillip Dunn, 67, said: “He has wormed his way into a £2,000 voucher. He is earning money off our horse, which is naughty. My daughter could have entered the competition if she had known about it.”
Speaking about his decision to enter the competition, David said the photo had been taken weeks before as he and Jacob walked near their house.
Jacob loves the horses and wanted to show mummy a picture of us enjoying the day so we posed up with a horse quietly eating grass in the background,” he said.
“I couldn’t believe it when I realised the horse had decided to pose up for the photos too. He started out as a smirk and then started grinning wildly, he looked absolutely crazy. He clearly loved being in front of the camera and enjoyed the attention.
“When I saw Thomson Holidays were running a competition with smiling as the theme I thought of this picture that I had taken back in November and thought it was worth entering. I never thought I would win so we were all over the moon when I did.
“Jacob was particularly happy as he sees the picture as his. I never thought of asking anyone for consent for the horse — it was clearly viewable from the road, so why would I? I just don’t understand it at all.”
The horse is no longer being kept in the field behind David’s house and has now been moved to another location.
This story originally appeared on TheSun.
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