A GROUP of men are to stand trial accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent while others face charges of witness intimidation.

Henry Smith, John Smith, Jim Janes and Samuel Janes appeared at Worcester Crown Court yesterday where all deny section 18 grievous bodily harm with intent against Jon Mongan at Offerton Lane in Warndon, Worcester on May 6 last year.

John Smith further denies criminal damage against the Mr Mongan’s Ford Mondeo on the same day, ‘intending to destroy or damage such property or being reckless as to whether such property would be destroyed or damaged'.

Two other defendants - Tony Smith and Bobby Joe Smith - each deny two counts of intimidation, one against Jon Mongan and the other against Charlene Lee.

Both counts of intimidation are said by the prosecution to have taken place on May 8 last year. The charges state that ‘knowing or believing’ the two complainants were witnesses in proceedings the two men made ‘threatening gestures’ which intimidated or were intended to intimidate, ‘intending thereby to cause the course of justice to be obstructed, perverted or interfered with’.

The defendants ar: John Smith, 30, of Waterside Park, Offerton Lane, Warndon, Worcester; Bobby-Joe Smith, 28, of Mount Pleasant, Stourport; Tony Smith, 25, of Bryn View, Nantyglo, Ebbw Vale, Gwent; Henry Smith, 31, of High Street, Blaina, Abertillery, Gwent; Jim Janes, aged 26, of Larch Road, Worcester and Samuel Janes, 57, of Smite Caravan Site, near Worcester. The case is being heard by judge Jim Tindal. The trial is being prosecuted by Marc Davies. John Smith is represented by Raj Punia. Bobby Joe-Smith is represented represented by Lewis Perry. Tony Smith is represented by Rosamund Rutter, Samuel Janes by Terrence Woods and Henry Smith by Gerwyn Wise. The trial is scheduled to begin today at 10am.