CAT farm owner Chris Brown has angrily rejected claims he illegally breeds stolen cats for medical experiments.

The accusation came while Mr Brown gave evidence during the trial of three people accused of breaking into Hillgrove Farm at Minster Lovell, near Witney.

Defence lawyer Peter Hall claimed Mr Brown kept stolen cats for breeding, but the farm owner wholeheartedly denied the suggestion. He told Oxford Crown Court yesterday: "I have never received stolen cats and I think it is absolutely atrocious that anybody would suggest it."

Kevin Hickey, 25, of Bath Street, Coventry, Bryan Sheil, 28, of Bristol, and Nichola Maddocks, 24 of Hastings, all deny breaking into the farm during a public demonstration last January.

Jonathan Coode, prosecuting, said they stole two boxes containing up to 18 kittens, as well as some breeding cats.

He added that both Maddocks and Hickey escaped with the stolen cats to the edge of the farm where the animals were passed to Sheil and other campaigners. The boxes were dropped and the protesters ran away when police officers arrived. The court heard a ginger 'breeding queen' called Margaret was stolen, as well as a cat called Zanny. When Hickey was arrested he was clutching a ginger cat which he refused to hand over to police officers.

Earlier yesterday, four jury members had to be changed because they had some connection to scientific research involving animals, the meat industry or hunting. They were swapped to ensure the case was not biased.

Mr Coode told the jury: "You may be cat lovers, you may be cat haters, but what the prosecution invites you to do is keep your eye on the ball."

The case continues.

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