A Carlisle man has appeared in court accused of stealing ferrets, amid a dispute between neighbours, and allowing the pets to be destroyed by a dog.
Axel Read, 23, faces three charges.
One charge alleges that Read, between July 31 and August 1 2024, made a threat to a female that he would steal and kill her pet ferrets.
A second charge alleges the theft of ferrets from the same female.
And a third charge alleges that Read caused unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely ferrets — specifically by allowing them to be destroyed by a dog.
Read, of Marks Avenue, Carlisle, appeared at the city’s magistrates’ court this morning.
During a short hearing, he pleaded not guilty to all three charges when they were read to him by a legal advisor.
Giving a brief outline, prosecutor George Shelley alleged to the court: “It relates to what appears to be a neighbour dispute regarding some ferrets.”
After hearing submissions, magistrates indicated that the case could be heard at their court due to the level of charges.
Read instead elected — as is his legal right — to have the case heard at Carlisle Crown Court.
Read is due to appear in front of a judge at the crown court, for a plea and trial preparation hearing, on Monday February 2.
In the meantime he has been granted bail.
