Irish man 'bit pet snake in half', court told

A man facing charges of assaulting his girlfriend bit her pet snake in two during a row, the High Court in Belfast heard.

Shane Harte (33), threw the snake's head at his girl-friend and shouted to her: "Your snake tasted lovely,"

Mr Harte, a bricklayer from Moss Road, Keady, Co Armagh, is charged with torturing a Royal Python snake by cutting and biting it in two. He was also charged with assaulting Coleen McGleenon (21), on August 4th and causing her actual bodily harm.

The court heard Ms McGleenon told police that during a domestic row he had head-butted her twice and had bitten her pet snake in two. Ms McGleenon told police she had seen Mr Harte lift the snake from a tank, hold it in both hands and put it in his mouth to bite it in two. He then cut it in two with a knife and threw the head at her, the court heard.

Mr Harte later denied the charge of assault and biting the snake but admitted killing it because he knew his girl-friend loved it.

Mr Justice Stephens said he believed there was a risk of Mr Harte committing further offences and refused bail.