A CHARD man facing a trial at Taunton Crown Court accused of assault causing actual bodily harm is to have two other offences dealt with at the same time.

Kieran Marc Sidney Finn, 22, of Coker Way, appeared before Somerset Magistrates sitting as a special domestic violence court.

They were told that the defendant had previously denied two offences of assaulting a woman at Chard between September 1 and 11; and taking a vehicle without consent and causing damage to it after being involved in an accident between October 9 and 12.

He had been due to stand trial before the court at Yeovil on May 16, but after hearing he had been sent to the crown court for a more serious assault which was linked to the earlier case the magistrates vacated the trial.

Instead they ordered Finn to be tried for all three offences at the crown court and adjourned the case until May 3 when he must appear before a preliminary hearing at Taunton.

In the meantime his unconditional bail was extended.