A WHITEHAVEN man accused of falsely imprisoning a woman is to stand trial early next year.
Niall Keenan, 25, faces a total of five charges, and appeared at Carlisle Crown Court this morning (FRI).
One charge alleges false imprisonment, and that Keenan unlawfully and injuriously imprisoned the woman, and detained her against her will.
A second charge alleges the dangerous driving of a Seat Leon vehicle at Brigham, near Cockermouth; and a third alleges the theft of a car key from the woman.
These three charges arise out of an alleged night-time incident on December 29, 2018.
Keenan also faces two further charges which allege the assault by beating of two emergency workers – police constables – on January 16, 2019.
When he appeared in front of Recorder Ciaran Rankin for a short hearing, Keenan pleaded not guilty to all five charges.
A timetable for the progression of the case was agreed by Tim Evans for the prosecution and the defendant’s barrister Judith McCullough.
A trial in front of a jury, estimated to last four to five days, was listed, and is due to start at the crown court on April 12 next year.
In the meantime Keenan, of Richmond Terrace, Whitehaven, was granted unconditional bail by Recorder Rankin.
