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A woman has been found guilty of attacking a pet ferret named Posh Spice while she was drunk.

Natalie Dendry was seen throwing the animal into the air and repeatedly punching it. The ferret tried to escape but she caught it and attacked it again.

The details were revealed at a trial at Newcastle Magistrates' Court after Dendry, 39, of Colston Street, Benwell, was charged with two offences - causing unnecessary suffering to a protected animal and being drunk and disorderly.

She denied both charges however she failed to attend court and the trial went ahead in her absence.

Prosecutor Stephen Davies said the offences took place just before 2pm on May 31.

It was said a driver who was travelling along Armstrong Road saw a woman at the side of road with a furry object. She then threw it in the air and started punching it "really severely".

The animal squirmed away but Dendry grabbed it and punched it again with a clenched fist, the court heard.

The police were called and PC Lewis Calboutin attended the scene.

The officer told the court : "I was asked to attend in relation to an intoxicated female who may have a pet that she was treating badly.

"I saw a female sitting on the grass verge on the side of Armstrong Road.

"She immediately appeared to me to be intoxicated. She had a ferret called Posh Spice. It was lying in the sun and it appeared dehydrated. It was hot, it was panting and seemed lethargic."

Dendry was asked to get into a police vehicle so she could be taken home to attend to the animal's welfare.

(Image: Newcastle Chronicle)

In the vehicle, she was shouting and swearing and, as they reached her address, she vomited in the van.

"We asked her to step out of the vehicle," said PC Calboutin. "She started shouting and swearing at me and my colleague.

"She then dropped her ferret from a standard height to the floor."

Dendry was arrested and the ferret was taken to a vet. The animal later recovered and was placed in a shelter.

On being interviewed, the defendant denied being drunk or that she ill treated the ferret. She pleaded not guilty to the offences at an earlier hearing.

However magistrates found her guilty of both charges on the day of the trial.

It was also revealed that Dendry had previously admitted to an offence of assaulting an officer at a police station after she was arrested on May 31.

Magistrates issued a warrant without bail so the defendant can be brought to court for sentence.