TWO young men and a teenage girl have appeared in court in connection with an attack on a Kosovan, which left the refugee fighting for his life with multiple fractures of the skull.

Paul Lee Waugh, 20, Lee Warren Dawson, 18, and a 17-year-old Middlesbrough girl, who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared before Teesside Magistrates' Court yesterday, charged with causing Gazim Harexhim grievous bodily harm on November 20.

Mr Waugh, of Beech Grove Road, and Mr Dawson, of Granville Road, both Middlesbrough, and the girl were granted conditional bail to appear at a preliminary hearing at Teesside Crown Court on December 20.

Conditions include staying out of The Royal Exchange pub - where the offence is alleged to have taken place - and all other town centre pubs in Middlesbrough, and a curfew from 10pm to 6am every day. Mr Dawson must stay at his mother's home in Durham Road, Redcar.

Mr Harexhim's condition is reported to be critical at Middlesbrough General Hospital.

l Cleveland Police have renewed an appeal for witnesses to call (01642) 303126.