FOUR people, including three women, have denied taking part in a house burglary in which the lone female occupant was attacked.

Gary John Rogers, Clare Louise Shaw, Joanne Wilson and Carmel Moore, all from the Bishop Auckland area, are accused of burglary and assault by beating, relating to an alleged break-in at a house in Howden-le-Wear, County Durham, on Wednesday August 31.

They are accused of taking a television set, a mobile phone, cigarettes, perfume and a jacket, and assaulting the householder.

The quartet all gave their ‘not guilty’ pleas during a short hearing at Durham Crown Court yesterday.

Mr Rogers appeared via video link from nearby Durham Prison and Ms Shaw appeared via a similar link, from Low Newton Women’s Prison, on the outskirts of the city.

Judge Christopher Prince said, having read the outline of the case: “This appears to have been a group ‘invasion’ of a woman’s home, in the middle of the night, to attack her and steal her property.”

He said it appeared to be, “a straight issue of identification”, as he was told that all four defendants deny entering the premises.

The case was adjourned for a trial at the court, of up to four days, starting on February 6.

Mr Rogers, 37, of Toronto, and Ms Shaw, 35, of Forebondgate, will remain in custody, while bail was extended for 35-year-old Ms Wilson, also of Toronto, and Ms Moore, 43, of Durham Street.