A TRIAL will take place early next year in the case of one of the men accused of taking part in a failed bid to commit a burglary at a town railway station.

It follows what appeared to be a concerted attempt to force entry into a building at Bishop Auckland Railway Station using sledge hammers, overnight on August 7/8 this year.

Liam John Robinson, 22, of Thorntree Gardens, Darlington, admitted a charge of burglary with intent to steal at a magistrates’ court appearance within days of the incident.

He was to have been produced by van from prison custody to be sentenced at Durham Crown Court today (Friday November 27).

But a judge ordered that the van, which he was told was en-route to court, should return Robinson to prison, after co-accused Jonathon Andrew McKenzie pleaded ‘not guilty’ to the charge.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said a trial start date of January 11 had been agreed.

Judge Simon Hickey, therefore, adjourned the case and bailed the 28-year-old defendant, of Otterburn Close, Darlington, to return to court for the trial in the New Year.

Robinson will remain in custody to be sentenced after the outcome of his co-accused’s trial.