A 35-year-old man has appeared at court charged with four counts of common assault, one of criminal damage and one of controlling and coercive behaviour.

William McClacklan, of Hambleton Road, Coundon, near Bishop Auckland entered no pleas to the charges put before him at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates Court on Wednesday.

Magistrates declined jurisdiction of the controlling and coercive behaviour charge therefore the defendant will appear at Durham Crown Court on Thursday, July 18, where all six charges will be put to him.

McClacklan, who was represented in court by John Clish, was remanded in custody until the hearing.

He was denied bail on the grounds that he may commit further offences or interfere with prosecution witnesses.