A man has denied attempted murder and burglary after a woman was seriously injured and a dog was stolen.

Emergency services were called to Bells Lane in Cinderhill, Nottingham, on October 1, where a woman was found with serious injuries and a British bulldog, called Winnie, was later reported missing from a nearby property.

Julian Mead, 40, was later arrested and Nottinghamshire Police said he was the first person in Britain to be charged with dognapping.

However, the charge of dognapping was changed to burglary by the time he appeared at Nottingham Crown Court on Thursday, which he denied.

Mead also pleaded not guilty to attempted murder, grievous bodily harm and possession of an offensive weapon – namely a hammer.

The woman who was injured, who is in her 40s, was taken to hospital but Nottinghamshire Police said her injuries were “not life-threatening”.

The offense of taking a dog away from a person with legal control, or “dognapping”, became an offense when the Pet Kidnapping Act (2024) came into force in August.

The offense carries a maximum sentence of five years in prison, while burglary is punishable by up to 14 years behind bars.

Mr Mead, wearing a gray prison-issue hoodie, appeared in court via video link from HMP Nottingham and spoke only to confirm his name and outline his pleas.

Judge Stuart Rafferty KC remanded Mr Mead, of Welstead Avenue in Aspley, Nottingham, in custody until his trial on March 24 at the same court.