Man charged with carrying a knife calls upon tortoise as a witness
A COURT was left in stunned silence when a defendant called upon an unusual character witness - one of his pet tortoises.
David Spedding called upon his pet tortoise as witnesses
David Spedding, 56, appeared in the dock accused of having a blade - a steak knife - in public at the Castle pub in Blackpool, Lancashire.
But at Blackpool Magistrates Court he denied the offence by claiming he had the knife to cut up fruit and vegetables for his tortoises during their trip to the seaside.
Spedding appeared in the dock accused of having a blade in public
My tortoise is always with me
And to prove he was a genuine tortoise fan he reached into his pocket and pulled one out to show stunned District Judge Jeff Brailsford.
Spedding, of Bamber Bridge, Lancs, told the district judge: “My tortoise is always with me.
He denied the offence
“He is my life. I have brought him to court to show him to you - he is why I had the knife.”
District Judge Brailsford ordered Spedding return to the magistrates court at a date to be fixed for a one-day trial.
Tortoises generally have one of the longest life-spans of any animal, and some individuals are known to have lived longer than 150 years.
Tortoises generally have one of the longest life-spans of any animal
Most tortoises are herbivores, feeding on grasses, weeds, leafy greens, flowers, and some fruits.
Although some pet species also consume worms or insects.