THE case against a Galashiels man accused of stealing a dog from the house of his former partner has been deserted at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Stuart Moffett was said to have forced entry to Nacisha Jones' home and taken the boxer-type dog and a dog lead.

He denied a total of four offences at Selkirk Sheriff Court.

Moffett pleaded not guilty to behaving in a threatening or abusive manner by forcing entry to a house in Glendinning Terrace, Galashiels, last month and brandish a dog chain.

He also denied assaulting his former partner by pushing her on the body and striking a man called Lee Dickson on the face with a dog lead to his injury.

Moffett of Church Square, Galashiels, had been due to face trial last Thursday but after his former partner failed to turn up in court the case against him was deserted and he was told he was free to go for the time being.