A WOMAN has denied two charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm following alleged knife attacks on other women in a pub on New Year’s Day.

Lisa Heightley-Goggs was arrested after the disturbance at the Grand Electric Hall, at Spennymoor, at about 8pm on Saturday January 1.

Two other female customers were taken to hospital for treatment for injuries suffered in the incident.

Ms Heightley-Goggs was charged with two counts of wounding with intent and one of possessing an offensive weapon, a knife, in public.

Appearing at a plea hearing at Durham Crown Court, the now 51-year-old defendant, of Witton Drive, Spennymoor, admitted the knife charge but denied both counts of wounding with intent.

She did, however, offer guilty pleas to the alternative of unlawful wounding, in both cases, without the element of intent.

Read more: Woman in court after 'stabbing' at Wetherspoon in Spennymoor

Robin Turton, prosecuting, said those pleas were not accepted by the Crown, and a trial would have to be staged to decide on the issue of the defendant’s intent when she used the knife.

Setting a provisional trial date of May 23, Judge James Adkin told the defendant: “You have indicated guilty pleas to unlawful wounding by stabbing these women.

“The prosecution say your intention was more significant and that you meant them really serious harm, hence the stabbing wound to the chest with the first victim, in particular.”

Judge Adkin renewed bail on the defendant, to live at an address in Ferryhill, prior to her return to the court for trial, in May.

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