A MAN has admitted making threats to kill and possessing a knife during a doorstep confrontation last month.

But Reece Watson may yet have to stand trial on the more serious charge of attempting to wound or attempting to cause grievous bodily harm to another man in the incident, in Brandon, County Durham, on Sunday May 22, this year.

The 29-year-old defendant, of Mount Pleasant, Stanley, was produced from custody for a plea hearing at Durham Crown Court today (Thursday June 23).

He denied the charge of attempting to wound/cause grievous bodily harm (gbh), but he pleaded guilty to other counts of making threats to kill the same complainant and possession of a bladed article in public.

Judge Ray Singh asked prosecution counsel Chris Baker if a charge of affray was to be added, would that satisfactorily resolve the case.

Mr Baker said his instructions so far from the reviewing Crown lawyer in the case are that only a plea to attempted wounding/gbh would be acceptable.

Judge Singh asked Mr Baker if the reviewing lawyer could be approached again in the next fortnight and asked if a plea to affray may now be accepted by the Crown, given the defendant’s pleas to the other two charges.

The judge adjourned the case for a decision from the prosecution to be confirmed at the court on Friday July 7.

Read more: Drunken County Durham man made knife threats to pregnant partner

But, if the Crown’s position remains unchanged a trial date was agreed for the case to start at the court on Tuesday November 15.

Judge Singh remanded the defendant to remain in custody, in the meantime.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054