Men from Darlington area facing trial at court in Durham in October

Lewis Firth, 26, and 25-year-old Nathan Bowen each denied a charge of robbery at a plea hearing at Durham Crown Court.

The alleged offence took place in Darlington, on Sunday, April 26.

Firth also denied having an article with a blade or point, a knife, in a public place, in Jedburgh Drive, on the same day.

Two men are to stand trial at Durham Crown Court later in the year accused of robbery in Darlington in April (Image: The Northern Echo)

He also denies further charges of damaging property, a house and tree, belonging to a woman, plus assaulting a man, both also in Darlington, on Tuesday, April 7.

A trial date was agreed for all four charges to be heard at the court in October.

Read next … more court stories from The Northern Echo by clicking here

Recorder Mark McKone set a timetable for the presentation of evidence in the case by the prosecution, on June 17 with a signed defence statement by both defendants to be submitted by July 15.

The Recorder remanded Firth, of Whitby Way, Darlington, who appeared by video link from Holme House Prison, Stockton, to remain in custody until the start of the trial, on Monday October 19.

Bowen, of Ringway Grove, Middleton St George, near Darlington, was granted extended bail until the start of the trial.