A 29 year old Worcester man has today denied slashing the tyres of eight police cars before raiding a Moreton in Marsh garage and stealing a cash machine in November last year.

At Gloucester crown court Frankie Butler of Pershore Lane, Hindslip, pleaded not guilty to charges of burglary and damaging property

and was bailed to await a four day jury trial starting on Oct 5th.

Because of the coronavirus restrictions today's hearing was conducted by telephone conference with Mr Butler, his lawyer and the prosecutor all dialing into the court.

It is alleged that Mr Butler was one of at least three people involved in the burglary on 9th November last year when 18 tyres of patrol cars parked at Stow on the Wold police station were slashed, causing £1,800 worth of damage, before the Eurogarage service station at Moreton was burgled and an ATM taken.

Prosecutor Janine Wood told the court that DNA evidence against Mr Butler would be an issue in the trial.

She understood, she said, that the defence will be seeking to call its own expert evidence about DNA.

There was also CCTV footage from the police station car park that would be part of the case, she said. It showed three men using a plastic pipe to damage the car tyres,

Defence solicitor Judith Kenney said she needs to have a copy of the CCTV because she intends to instruct a 'facial mapper' - an expert who would be able to say whether the defendant's face matched any of the people in the video.

The prosecutor confirmed that although three people are said to have been involved no-one else has been arrested or charged and Mr Butler will stand trial alone.

Judge Michael Cullum bailed Mr Butler pending the trial in October but also told him he will need to attend a progression hearing on Aug 3.