Man in court over Derbyshire Police dog stabbing charge
A man has appeared before magistrates accused of stabbing a police dog and threatening to kill armed officers.
Matthew Stretch, of Plantation Road, Keyworth, was arrested on High Street in Riddings, Derbyshire, on Wednesday. The 27-year-old has been charged with two counts of making threats to kill police officers and two counts of criminal damage, one of which relates to PD Axle of Derbyshire Police. He is set to appear at Derby Crown Court on 2 August. Mr Stretch has also been charged with assault, threatening with a blade and breaching a restraining order. Injuries to police dogs are currently treated as criminal damage. A proposal for a new law to give greater protection to police animals was blocked earlier this month after an objection by Conservative MP Christopher Chope. Follow BBC East Midlands on Facebook, on Twitter, or on Instagram. Send your story ideas to eastmidsnews@bbc.co.uk.