6 September 2012 Last updated at 08:06 ET

York student accused of cooking live hamster

A student has been accused of killing a hamster by cooking it.

James White, 21, of Popes Head Court, York, denied killing the unnamed adult female Syrian hamster when he appeared before city magistrates.

The case was adjourned because findings from a post-mortem test conflicted with evidence from another expert.

Mr White, who is being prosecuted by the RSPCA, will face a trial and was bailed to reappear at York Magistrates Court on 4 October.

Stephen Munro, defending, told the court: "It's a very sensitive case and it's a case that's going to be a battle of the experts, in essence."

Mr White is charged with causing unnecessary suffering to an adult female Syrian hamster by subjecting her to hyperthermia in February.