A man is facing court for allegedly cooking “a fluffy toy chicken”.
William Rae is accused of behaving recklessly and putting people at serious risk of harm by turning on a cooker, putting the cuddly hen in the oven and then leaving it, so it caught fire.
Rae, 36, is also accused of cooking clothing.
The bizarre alleged incident is said have taken place on July 18, at a block of flats where Rae lives in Alva, Clackmannanshire.
He is accused of culpably and recklessly switching on the oven and all four rings of the cooker at the same time at his address in The Nebit, Alva.
He is alleged to have then placed a fluffy toy chicken – or similar item – and pieces of clothing in the oven and leave them unattended.
The single charge against Rae states the toy and clothing smouldered and caught fire, “causing serious risk of harm to other residents and members of the emergency services”.
Rae failed to appear at Alloa Sheriff Court in answer to an undertaking he gave police that he would do so.
He has not entered a plea, nor have his lawyers entered one on his behalf.
His solicitor, Ms Kelly Howe, told the court: “We wrote to Mr Rae asking him to get in touch to go over the charge with us and he hasn’t done that.”
Sheriff Craig Harris issued a warrant for Rae’s arrest.
