Judge orders fitness to plead report on Darlington man facing police gbh charge (From Darlington and Stockton Times)

Judge orders fitness to plead report on Darlington man facing police gbh charge

5:00pm Wednesday 20th March 2013 in News By Stuart Arnold

A JUDGE has called for a report on a man in order to assess his fitness to plead.

Ryan Watt is accused of causing grievous bodily harm to a police constable, Peter Hoole, in Darlington on December 23 last year.

He is also charged with dangerous driving on West Auckland Road, in the town, on December 13.

Mr Watt, 38, appeared at Teesside Crown Court flanked by staff from Middlesbrough’s Roseberry Park Hospital where he is currently detained under the mental health act.

The Recorder of Middlesbrough Judge Simon Bourne-Arton said he wanted the defendant’s full medical position to be made clear to the court by the time the case was heard again on May 10.

The defendant, of Hargreave Terrace, Darlington, was remanded back into the care of the hospital. No pleas were entered during the short hearing.