A man accused of stealing a Poppy Appeal collection tin from the Bear Hotel, Devizes, has pleaded not guilty.

Marcus Melvin Pocock, of Quakers Road, Devizes, denied the charge when he appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Monday.

The theft happened on November 1 last year when the tin was stolen from the reception desk of the hotel.

The case was adjourned for trial at North West Wiltshire Magistrates’ Court, Chippenham on April 16.

Pocock, 39, admitted failing to surrender to bail relating to when he did not appear before Chippenham magistrates on January 2 to answer the theft charge.

He was fined £50.