AN EAST Peckham man has appeared in court accused of causing more than £70,000 worth of damage at a Lincolnshire rabbit farm, which was targeted by animal rights protestors.

Lewis Pogson, of Bush Road, faces charges of blackmail, burglary and criminal damage at Highgate Farm in Normanby by Spital in January this year.

The 22-year-old also faces a further charge of interfering with a contractual relationship so as to harm an animal research establishment, as well as four conspiracy charges.

Some 129 rabbits were stolen and a large amount of damage was caused during a raid at Highgate Farm on the night of January 6 this year.

Vehicles were smashed up and Animal Liberation Front graffiti daubed on walls during the raid.

Highgate Farm was targeted by animal rights groups after it supplied rabbits used in testing by the research company Huntingdon Life Sciences.

At a brief hearing at Lincoln Crown Court on Tuesday, no pleas were taken from Pogson and he was remanded in custody until January 9, after being refused bail.