THE trial of two shop-fitters accused of robbing a taxi driver during a working visit to the North-East has been put back into next year.

Colin Sanders and Anthony Lewis are alleged to have waylaid a driver ferrying them back to a hotel on the outskirts of Durham, following a night out in the city, on Friday, January 22.

They are accused of taking money, two mobile phones, a wallet and a wash bag belonging to the driver.

Appearing at Durham Crown Court earlier this year, the pair, both pleaded ‘not guilty’ to a joint charge of robbery.

The case was adjourned for a trial and the pair, from the South-East, were bailed to return for the two-day hearing at the court this week.

But, Judith Kemish, counsel for Mr Sanders, applied for an adjournment to enable blood samples taken from him at the time to be medically tested for signs that his drinks that night may have been laced or spiked.

Ms Kemish said it was not a, “knee-jerk, day-of-trial application”, as it was a theory her client raised during his initial interview with police.

Chris Baker, for the Crown, confirmed the samples remain “in existence” and could be made available to the defence.

“It is a reasonable line of inquiry which should have taken place a long time ago,” he added.

Judge Simon Hickey “reluctantly” agreed to the defence request and adjourned the trial, apologising to the taxi driver for the inconvenience.

He bailed 52-year-old Mr Sanders, of Waltham Cross, Hertfordshire, and Mr Lewis, 33, of Tottenham, in north London, to return for the trial, provisionally re-set for a date in March, next year.