A Darlington teenager has been accused of biting the head off a pet hamster during a horrific act on Christmas Eve.

Jamie Straugher, 19,of Victoria Road in Darlington, has been charged with 'causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal' following an alleged incident over the festive period in 2022.

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According to court documents, he is accused of biting the head off the animal - with the document reading: "On Saturday 24th December 2022 at Darlington in the County of Durham caused unnecessary suffering to a protected animal, namely a domestic pet hamster, by an act, namely biting the head off a hamster, and you knew or ought reasonably to have known that the act would have that effect or be likely to do so."

Straugher was due to appear at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates' Court on Monday, but the 19-year-old failed to attend the court hearing, and a warrant was issued for his arrest.