A MAN from Northwich has denied shouting at a witness ahead of an appearence in crown court on assault charges.

Paul Schofield, of Royle Street, was appearing at Warrington Magistrates Court via video-link on Wednesday April 20.

The 41-year-old was being held at Middlewich custody suite, after being arrested by police for allegedly breaching the terms of his bail.

Schofield is due to appear at Chester Crown Court on May 5 on two charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one of intimidating the complainant in those matters.

The first of those alleged assaults against the woman is said to have taken place on April 23 last year, while the second happened on August 29.

Three days later, on September 1, Schofield is accused of threatening her with violence in a bid to obstruct the investigation.

Simon Green, prosecuting, told the bench how another witness in the proceedings made a statement to police alleging Schofield had shouted at him across the street on April 14 this year.

"He was walking down Victoria Street when he saw the defendant and two other males," he said.

"The defendant shouted at him across the street that he needed the charges against him to be dropped," said Mr Green.

"One of the other men with him called the witness a grass."

Wendy Shurrock, defending, told the court her client denied the incident had taken place and said the statement itself was "weak".

"He has been on bail in relation to the charges against him for eight months," she said.

"In that time there have been no breaches.

"This is just simply someone trying to get him into trouble ahead of his crown court hearing.

"He denies the incident took place and statement itself is weak."

Magistrates agreed with Ms Shurrock, saying the evidence was not strong enough to prove a breach had actually taken place.

Schofield was released on the same bail conditions and will appear at Chester Crown Court on May 5 to enter pleas in relation to the matters he has been charged with.