Two men accused of attacking two others found with serious injuries in Workington on New Year’s Day are due to stand trial later this year.
Jamie Elston, 31, and 32-year-old David Alan Ratcliffe appeared at Carlisle Crown Court this morning. They each face two charges.
These allege that they both unlawfully and maliciously caused different men grievous bodily harm on January 1 this year, with intent to do so.
During today’s court hearing in front of Judge Simon Medland QC, Elston, of Iredale Crescent, and Ratcliffe, of Falcon Place, both Workington, each pleaded not guilty to the charges they face.
They are now due to stand trial in front of a jury. This is due to start on July 25 and it is estimated it will last around a week.
In the meantime, both Elston and Ratcliffe were remanded in custody.
A police spokesman said in the aftermath of the incident the that officers had been called at 8.52am on January 1 following concern for the welfare of two men at a property in William Street, Workington. Two men were discovered with injuries.
One, aged 38, was taken by air ambulance to the Royal Victoria Infirmary in Newcastle with head injuries. He was said at the time to have been in a critical but stable condition.
The other man, aged 34, was taken by ambulance to the West Cumberland Hospital in Whitehaven with head injuries, and later discharged.
