A second man has appeared in court accused of helping with the alleged murder of a Droitwich pensioner.

Mark Mason, 55, of Plough Lane, Tibberton, was charged with assisting an offender and appeared before magistrates in Worcester on August 1.

The allegation in the charge is that on June 23, Mason gave a lift to the other defendant in the case, Adam Mason, knowing or believing he had committed an offence.

Mark Mason did not indicate a plea and, because of the seriousness of the case, magistrates ordered it to be dealt with at Worcester Crown Court.

Mason will appear at Worcester Crown alongside co-defendant Adam Mason - who is charged with Mr Wooding's murder - on August 9.

He was granted bail on the condition that he does not contact Adam Mason until that date and sleeps at his address in Plough Lane every night.

Pensioner Desmond Wooding was found dead at his home in Vines Lane at 8.20am on Monday, June 24.

Mr Wooding was 80 and lived alone.

Police said he had been stabbed in a 'brutal attack'.

On June 27, at a media briefing on the investigation, Superintendent Damian Pettit said: “This is an 80-year-old man, who has survived eight decades of life in peaceful harmony, who has been brutally attacked in his home where he should feel safest.”

He said Mr Wooding had last been seen alive early on Sunday evening, near to his house. Mr Wooding was well known for riding his mobility scooter around Droitwich.

Adam Mason, referred to in court as Mr Wooding's great-nephew, appeared at Worcester Crown Court on July 12 for his pre-trial hearing.