A 36-YEAR-OLD man has denied criminal damage following an incident in which a horse was killed and dumped in a front garden.

Edward Leighton Johnson pleaded not guilty to committing the offence at the equestrian GG Centre, Raskelf, near Easingwold, North Yorkshire, on October 15, when he appeared at Northallerton Magistrates Court at 9.30am.

Magistrate Graham Perrin gave Mr Johnson, of Deighton Way, Raskelf, bail ahead of a trial at the court on March 27.