A MAN is set to face trial later this year for four offences including a threat to kill.
Benjamin Parkinson, formerly of Worcester, appeared via videolink to Worcester Crown Court on Friday, July 1, for a pre-trial preparation hearing.
The counts on the indictment Parkinson faces are threat to kill on August 31, 2021, and on the same date an alleged offence of assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Parkinson also faces a count of theft allegedly stealing two coins, a mobile phone and a blue anorak on August 31, 2021.
And Parkinson faces another count of theft, alleging taking £200 cash, a credit card, and a mobile phone on August 27, 2021.
It is alleged by the prosecution the victim was the same woman in all four counts.
Parkinson is yet to enter pleas to the counts. The court heard that previous trial dates had been missed as the defence had been awaiting completion of a psychiatric report on whether Parkinson is fit to plead to the counts.
At the start of the hearing Alun Williams, defending, explained this report was still not completed, due to issues with doctors that had previously been appointed to do it – but Parkinson had told him a doctor at HMP Hewell may be able to produce a report within weeks.
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Judge Martin Jackson, hearing the case, asked Parkinson if this was correct, the 33-year-old explaining he had been told it could be done in “four to six weeks”.
The judge said if the report could be completed in that time scale, the case could now be listed for a trial date.
Benjamin Parkinson's Worcester Crown Court trial to take place this autumn
Ian Windridge, prosecuting, applied for the judge to extend the custody time limit for Parkinson.
Judge Jackson said he was satisfied there was sufficient cause to extend the time limit, announcing he would extend it until Friday, December 2.
The judge told Parkinson, of Charles Road, Aston, Birmingham, and previously of Battenhall Road, Worcester, this case would be placed in a warned list beginning November 23.
This means the trial could begin in the week after this date.
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