Judge quashes teen's conviction for growling at a dog

When teenager Kyle Little growled and barked at two labradors, the dogs' owner thought he was just being "a daft young lad".

But two police officers who witnessed the incident had other ideas - and arrested the 19-year-old for committing a public order offence.

Little was subsequently charged and convicted at magistrates court of causing harassment, alarm or distress. He was fined £50 and ordered to pay £150 costs.

Unfortunately for the taxpayer, the bizarre case of the barking man didn't end there.

The case went to appeal - at an estimated cost of £8,000 - and ended up before a judge at Newcastle Crown Court.

Judge Beatrice Bolton quashed the conviction and rebuked the prosecuting authorities, saying: "The law is not an ass".

She added: "I'm sure an expert on labradors could no doubt explain how distressed the dogs were, but I don't think Section Five of the Public Order Act applies to dogs".