A man has admitted breaking into a pizza shop premises in a County Durham village last month, but he and a co-accused have denied several other charges arising from the same events that morning.

Darren Waugh, 40, and 35-year-old Stephen Morton were both arrested on suspicion of assault and burglary after police responded to reports of a disturbance in Ushaw Moor, near Durham, in the early hours of Sunday, February 4.

A man in his 30s was taken to hospital suffering what were described as “significant” head and chest injuries, while damage was alleged to have been caused to Sopranos, a pizza restaurant, in Station Road.

The Northern Echo: Police at scene of alleged break-in and disturbance at Sopranos pizza premises in Station Road,

Both defendants appeared before magistrates in Newton Aycliffe the following day, accused with offences of violence and burglary arising from the incident/s, early on February 4.

The case was sent to Durham Crown Court where both appeared at a plea hearing via video link from the custody of nearby Durham Prison today (Monday, March 4).

Charges were put to both accused and Waugh admitted the burglary at Sopranos, in which the till drawer, containing cash, plus food was said to have been taken.

The Northern Echo:

Morton denied the same offence, and both defendants also pleaded not guilty to causing grievous bodily harm, with intent.

Waugh also denied attempting to rob the same man who was the alleged victim of the grievous bodily harm charge, of a watch.

He also denied two counts of assaulting an emergency worker, both police constables, who were attending at the scene of the reported incidents.

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Ushaw Moor incident: Two men in court as man hospitalised

Cordon in place at Sopranos on Broom Lane, Ushaw Moor

Ushaw Moor LIVE: Police cordon off Sopranos on Broom Lane

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A further count of burglary was not put to the pair who are to apply to have that charge dismissed, at a hearing in May.

Judge Nathan Adams and counsel in the hearing then set a timetable for the case, culminating in a trial, of an estimated three-days’ duration, starting on Monday July 15.

Both Waugh, of Silver Courts, Brandon, and Morton, of Station Road, Ushaw Moor, were remanded to remain in custody in the meantime.