A 29-YEAR-OLD Dewsbury man has admitted stealing a dog and seven one-week-old puppies during a house burglary in Halifax.

Lee Cooke, of Albion Street, pleaded guilty to the burglary charge when he appeared before a judge at Bradford Crown Court yesterday.

But Cooke denied a further allegation of causing unnecessary suffering to the puppies by removing them from their mother and not providing adequate care resulting in their deaths.

Lance Smith, 22, of Gorsdale Close, Batley, pleaded not guilty to the same burglary charge, which relates to a break-in at a house at Grove Edge, Ovenden, on September 29 last year, and the unnecessary suffering allegation in relation to the puppies.

Judge Peter Benson adjourned the case for trial on August 13 and granted both men conditional bail in the meantime.