A HUNGRY vagrant appeared in court accused of breaking into an empty country cottage in the Teignbridge village of Whitestone on Christmas Day in search of food and shelter.
Jason Walker did not enter a plea and walked out of the video link booth at Exeter Prison before he could be arraigned at Exeter Crown Court.
Walker, aged 40, now of Barne Barton, Plymouth, is accused of burgling a cottage at Whitstone, near Exeter, on December 25 last year.
Judge Geoffrey Mercer QC adjourned the case and ordered Walker to be brought to court next week after he refused to take any part in proceedings.
Before he left the video booth, he told the judge:"I don’t believe you are who you say you are."
Miss Janice Eagles said Walker allegedly entered the cottage when the owner was no longer living there and it was empty.
He allegedly stole food from a cupboard and a freezer and left DNA traces on a door and a glass.
The burglary was discovered by a potential buyer who went to the house to check it had not been affected by flooding.
Judge Mercer set a provisional trial date for October.