Trial set after Aberdeen man denies killing cat with airgun in Caithness village

An Aberdeen man is alleged to have used an airgun to kill a cat in a Caithness hamlet in an incident 11 years ago.

Peter Huntington (63) pleaded not guilty to the charge at Wick Sheriff Court on Wednesday and will stand trial later this year. The incident is said to have occurred at Cairnside, Spittal, on November 21, 2013.

Huntington is accused of causing the cat, named Sammy, unnecessary suffering and severe injuries, which led to its death.

The accused denied a further charge of having engaged in a course of abusive conduct towards his partner by repeatedly sending her unwanted messages, over three days, to her WhatsApp and her email address and posting multiple packages to her home, one of which was accompanied by a photo of family members with a derogatory note. The charge also included having left her a voice mail message and placed her in a state of fear and alarm.

Huntington, of Westdyke Drive, Westhill, Aberdeen, was granted conditional bail and will return to court for his trial on September 3.