COURT cases in Worcester continue to be delayed because of measures to contain the spread of coronavirus.

Defendants facing a raft of charges from assault and criminal damage to drink driving and speeding were told of the delay at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday.

Priority is being given to only the most urgent cases to limit the spread of the pandemic which has already killed 19,000 people in UK hospitals.

Scott Allen of Worcester was due to appear at Worcester Magistrates Court on Thursday for matters of criminal damage, assault and a threat of unlawful violence.

However, the 25-year-old of Ombersley Road, Worcester, had the case adjourned until June 11 following the offences, said to have taken place on September 27 last year.

The court told him: "It has been necessary to adjourn your case given the exceptional circumstances that have arisen from the Covid-19 virus. This adjournment will help reduce the number of people that are having to attend the magistrates court and enable urgent and priority cases to proceed in the meantime."

The same reason was given to Alan Goodrick, 57, of Frinton Road, London, who denies speeding between junctions 5 and 6 of the M5 on November 20 last year. His case was adjourned until June 12.

Mark Graham of Oxford Road, Erdington, had been due in court to face drug driving charges after he was stopped on the A4440 at Powick on March 13 last year.

The 50-year-old, who denies the offences, was granted unconditional bail to attend court on June 9. Again, Covid-19 was given as the reason for the adjournment.

Jack Jones of Pound Bank Road, Malvern, had also been due up for failing to provide a specimen for analysis on March 31 last year. The case was adjourned until June 11 in a bid to slow the spread of the deadly virus.

Ross Nelmes, 43, of Chedworth Drive, Warndon, had denied four theft charges relating to the alleged theft of bottles of alcohol from the city's Asda store last year.

His case was adjourned until June 12, the reason given again as Covid-19.

In total around 20 cases were delayed on that day alone because of the virus.