A man accused of assaulting a woman on Dec. 2 appeared in Magistrates’ Court on Friday and pleaded not guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Raymond Wilkins, of Old Plantation, stands accused of fracturing both legs of a Long Look woman police reported to be “challenged mentally.”
According to Police Information Officer Diane Drayton, the alleged victim was found lying on the ground near Mr. Wilkins’ residence with several injuries to her legs and arms. She was taken to Peebles Hospital for treatment, Ms. Drayton said.
The complainant allegedly named Mr. Wilkins as her attacker.
The defendant’s trial was scheduled for March 6.
It was also disclosed on Friday that Mr. Wilkins might have spent nearly two months in Her Majesty’s Prison unnecessarily because of an administrative error.
He apparently was not offered bail when he was charged because it was believed that he had a previous charge of criminal trespassing outstanding against him.
However, it was revealed that the criminal trespassing charge actually had been discontinued in February 2014. With no outstanding charges, he should have been eligible for bail.
No one in court clarified who or what department was responsible for the bail snafu.