A WHITCHURCH man will face trial next month after he pleaded not guilty to attacking his mother.

William Varey, of no fixed abode, appeared at Telford Magistrates Court on Wednesday, October 19 charged with two counts of causing actual bodily harm and intentional strangulation against Mary Varey on October 12.

He had already pleaded not guilty to the two offences at an earlier hearing at the court on Saturday, October 15 while a third charge of theft was dropped by the court.

Varey appeared in the dock at the court after he had been remanded in custody and was told by magistrates that he will stand trial in Telford on Friday, November 18 at 10am.

The complainant will give evidence via a live link from a remote location – to be confirmed – with an application based on her age but Andrew Holland, defending, said it should not have been a determining factor.

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He also called for her to give evidence behind a screen but magistrates agreed with the prosecution's application to give evidence over the link.

Varey was remanded in custody as a bail application was not made because of a lack of a suitable address for him to live, while two witnesses were confirmed.

He will be remanded until Wednesday, November 16.