A man accused of attempting to murder two people during an early morning incident at his next door neighbours’ home in Penrith has appeared in court.
Samuel Hughes, a 46-year-old former Royal Marines Commando, faces a total of five charges.
These arise out of an incident at an address in the town’s Brentfield Way during the early hours of last Thursday, November 27.
A Cumbria police spokesman said officers were called at 4.16am on that date to a report that two people inside the address had suffered injuries.
Two occupants of that address were injured. Both were treated at hospital and discharged later that day.
Hughes faces two charges which allege that he attempted to murder both a man and woman.
A third charge alleges that Hughes unlawfully and maliciously wounded a third person — a different man — with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm.
A fourth charge alleges illegal possession of a kitchen knife in a public place.
A fifth charge alleges aggravated burglary: specifically that Hughes entered a domestic property at Brentfield Way as a trespasser, inflicted grievous bodily harm on the two men, and at the time was in possession of a weapon of offence — a kitchen knife.
Hughes appeared at Carlisle Magistrates’ Court this morning, when he spoke to confirm his name, date of birth and address of Brentfield Way in Penrith during a five-minute hearing in front of a district judge, Philip Holden.
Giving a brief outline of the case facing Hughes to the judge, prosecutor Jackie Partington alleged: “He has entered his next door neighbours’ property in the middle of the night, armed with a knife, and attacked the three residents there.”
Some submissions were made by defence solicitor, David Wales, on behalf of Hughes.
No pleas were entered by Hughes in court to any of the five charges he faces. Four of these are deemed indictable only and so serious that they can only be dealt with in a crown court.
The district judge formally sent the case and all charges to Carlisle Crown Court, where Hughes is due to attend a plea and trial preparation hearing on 5th January, 2026.
In the meantime Hughes has been remanded in custody. No application for bail was made by his solicitor.
