A DARLINGTON woman accused of throwing a hamster out of a window will go on trial later this year.

Xanthia Jade Wheeldon, of Ashfield Court, Darlington, pleaded not guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal before magistrates sitting at Peterlee on Tuesday (March 8).

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In a prosecution brought by the RSPCA, it is alleged that the 25-year-old threw a Syrian hamster known as Snowy out of a window on or around August 24 last year.

She has been charged with one count of causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal under the Animal Welfare Act.

Wheeldon denied the charge and the case was adjourned until July 5 when she will be back at Peterlee Magistrates' Court for the trial.

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