Girls’ bid to ‘dig up body of dog' (From Blackburn Citizen)

Girls’ bid to ‘dig up body of dog'

7:53pm Friday 15th February 2008 in News

TWO teenage girls who went on a drunken mission to dig up a dead dog using spoons ended up leaving with lino instead of Fido.

Blackburn magistrates heard that the dog had been buried two weeks earlier in the garden of a house from which one of the girls and her family had been evicted.

And the exhumation plan was hatched because one of the girls said her mum loved the animal and wanted to bury it in the garden of their new home.

Chantelle Jade Cassell, 19, of Princess Street, Blackburn, pleaded guilty to burglary at a house in Hardman Street and theft of a piece of vinyl flooring worth £100.

She was made subject to community supervision for nine months.

Isla Chilton, prosecuting, said the house was empty at the time of the burglary and all that had been taken was a piece of vinyl flooring from the kitchen.

"When she was interviewed she said she was extremely drunk and had gone round to dig up a dog that had been buried in the back yard," said Mrs Chilton.

Roger Pickles, defending, said the explanation given to the police was the one his client had given to him.

"She was out drinking with a friend and she asked my client if she would come back to her old address to get the dog which had died two weeks earlier," said Mr Pickles.

"Armed with spoons they went to the property in the early hours of the morning and, not surprisingly, were unable to find the body."

Mr Pickles said at some stage they went into the property through a broken window and the other girl removed the vinyl flooring.

"My Client didn't take anything but accepts she played a part in a joint enterprise," said Mr Pickles.

"When she woke the following morning not only did she have a hangover she was covered in dirt from her efforts to dig up the dog."