A TRIAL date has been set in the case of two men accused of robbing, assaulting and suffocating a man in Kendal.

Leigh Jonathon Dirkin, 31, and 41-year-old Peter Christopher Hall jointly face three charges.

One alleges that they robbed a man of a cash card, wallet and contents, mobile phone and jewellery.

A second charge alleges that they assaulted the man, causing actual bodily harm. And a third charge alleges that they were responsible for suffocation of the man, which is said to have affected his ability to breathe and constituted a battery.

Dirkin faces a fourth a charge which alleges fraud and that he made a false representation to Nationwide Building Society that he had authority to use a bank card that belonged to someone else.

All charges arise out of incidents which are alleged to have taken place in Kendal between July 9-12 last year.

Their case came before Carlisle Crown Court, although neither Dirkin, of Farm Street, Barrow, nor Hall, who has a prison address, was present for the hearing.

A timetable for the progression of the case was set in front of Judge Nicholas Barker. A date for a trial in front of a jury was also provisionally set for 6th November.

In the meantime both Dirkin and Hall remain remanded in custody.