A 19-year-old man who has denied the attempted murder of a man in Stroud in June 2022, has now also pleaded not guilty to a less serious alternative charge.

At Gloucester Crown Court on Thursday (October 5) Tyrese Miles denied unlawfully and maliciously wounding Ryan Jones with intent to cause grievous bodily harm on June 17, 2022.

Mr Miles, formerly of Wheelerswalk, Stroud and Alexandra Road, Gloucester, denying all three charges, has also pleaded not guilty to possessing an offensive weapon on the same occasion and is to stand jury trial on October 30.

The incident giving rise to the charges allegedly occurred at the railway crossing between London Road, Stroud and Butterow Lane.

Charley Pattison, defending, told the court yesterday that Mr Miles is currently resident at Fromeside psychiatric hospital in Bristol and will need the assistance of an intermediatory throughout his trial, which is expected to last at least five days.

Judge Ian Lawrie KC observed: "It is unusual, and extremely rare, for an intermediatory to remain throughout the trial."

Ms Patterson added: "This defendant is one who can articulate in many ways but he thinks in a binary way."

The judge suggested that when Mr Miles is cross examined the intermediatory could be given advance warning of the questions so that they could be rephrased in a manner which the defendant would be able to understand.

Prosecutor Caroline Harris said that the alleged victim, Mr Jones, may also need an intermediary to assist him when he gives evidence.