A WOMAN banned from keeping animals has returned to court accused of breaching the order after an alleged incident where a dog bit a woman.

In 2019, Lynn Stoker (64), of Raw Farm House, in Byrness, was disqualified for life from keeping animals under Section 34 of the Animal Welfare Act 2006 after being found guilty of a string of cruelty charges against more than 100 animals.

At Newcastle Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday, Stoker pleaded not guilty to being the owner in charge of a dog dangerously out of control and causing injury after a woman was allegedly bitten by a black Labrador on the thigh.

Stoker is co-accused of the offence alongside Maxwell McGovern (56), also of Raw Farm House in Byrness, while Stoker faces another charge of breaching a disqualification imposed after a conviction.

It is alleged that the couple’s out of control Labrador bit the woman who was walking her dog along the path to Byrness Caravan Park in July of last year.

Both McGovern and Stoker pleaded not guilty to the offences during the hearing which took place at 10.30 on May 5 at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court.

A trial will take place at North Tyneside Magistrates Court on September 3 at 9.30am and is expected to last the full day. Until that trial date, both McGovern and Stoker have been granted unconditional bail.

The magistrates have requested that a bad character reference relating to Stoker only, is to be submitted to the court within 28 days in writing.

The defendants thanked their solicitor who appeared via video link.