The big cases set to be heard at Worcester courts in 2024

Trials can be heard at both magistrates court, and crown court in front of a jury depending on the seriousness.

Here are just a few of the trials scheduled to take place this year:

Crown Court trials

TRIAL: Frances Payne (Image: SWNS)

FRANCES PAYNE, 57, of Hampton Mill will face a trial at Worcester Crown Court. 

Payne denies three breaches of a criminal behaviour order (CBO), three charges of assault by beating, and using threatening, abusive, insulting words, and behaviour to cause harassment alarm or distress.

The breach of the order is alleged to have taken place on June 1, 2022, and one of the assaults is also alleged to have taken place on that date. 

The other two alleged assaults are said by the prosecution to have taken place on June 23, 2022.

Some of those she is accused of assaulting are children.

Payne's trial is scheduled to take place on October 21 at the court.

TRIAL: Luke Timms (Image: Facebook)

LUKE TIMMS, 31, of The Elms Hotel, Stockton Road, Abberley and formerly of Woodhouse Close, Worcester, faces a trial after denying assault of a person thereby occasioning them actual bodily harm. 

The prosecution alleges that on October 13 last year, in Worcester, Timms assaulted Daniel O'Donnell. 

Timms originally denied the offence in March last year at Worcester Magistrates Court, when he elected to have a jury trial after being given the choice.

We reported last April a judge decided it would be "wholly inappropriate" for his trial to take place at Worcester Crown Court due to him previously having worked there as a security guard. 

Timms will face a two-day trial at Gloucester Crown Court on February 22.

TRIAL: Jonathan Roberts (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)JONATHAN ROBERTS, 35, of Britannia Square, Worcester, will face a trial for allegedly drugging a woman before raping her.

Roberts denies administering a substance with intent to stupefy/overpower to allow sexual activity; rape; attempted rape and sexual assault on a female. 

The prosecution alleges the sexual activity happened in Worcester on December 12, 2022. 

Supporters of Jonathan Roberts attempted to prevent a reporter taking his picture as he left Worcester Magistrates Court following the first hearing of the case in August 2023.

Roberts will face a trial at Worcester Crown Court on July 15.

Magistrates trials

TRIAL: Sam Gleadall (Image: Sam Greenway/Newsquest)

SAM GLEADALL denies burglary of a Worcester pharmacy. 

The 37-year-old, of no fixed abode, denies a charge of burglary other than dwelling - theft.

He is accused of entering Lloyds Pharmacy in St Peters Drive, as a trespasser on July 22 last year. 

The defendant is accused of stealing medication from the pharmacy. 

He will face trial at Worcester Magistrates Court on February 22.

DANIEL BADHAM, of Kinnersley Road, Malvern, denies one charge of breaching a non-molestation order made by Worcester Family Court on December 7, 2022.

The 52-year-old is accused of committing the offence in Hereford Road, Leigh Sinton, on August 4 this year. 

Badham's expected three-hour trial is scheduled to take place on March 21.