A MAN accused of causing grievous bodily harm jointly with a sex worker has been told not to enter areas of the town centre until he faces the charge.

Karl Taylor, of Tyndale Gardens, stands accused with Portia Docherty of a stabbing in a property in Swindon.

The 22-year-old appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court on Wednesday but did not enter a plea to the charge.

Ms Docherty is due to appear in court next week.

It is alleged that on January 18 the victim visited a house in Swindon. After a dispute between the three parties hhe was stabbed.

Nick Barr, prosecuting, said: “There is another person jointly charged in this matter with the defendant and she does not appear in court until next week.

“The allegation is that the injured party has gone to her house, and she is a sex worker.

“He decides he is not going to participate, and a dispute between the parties follows.

“It is a case where a weapon was used and a serious injury sustained.”

Mr Taylor has had his bail conditions relaxed so that he will be permitted to travel through the areas of Manchester Road and Fleming Way.

Emma Thacker, defending, said: “There is a condition for the defendant not to enter areas of Swindon as defined by a map.

“I would be asking that there is an addition to that which allows Mr Taylor to travel through the area on the map if he is in a vehicle or public transport.

“As it stands the condition prohibits him from going through Manchester Road and Fleming Way, so it becomes problematic for him if he wants to travel through Swindon.

“Part of the area he is not allowed to go through contains Manchester Road, and these offences did not take place there or anywhere in the areas on the map.”

Chairman of the bench Peter Wells refused jurisdiction in the case and transferred Mr Taylor to Swindon Crown Court.

“The court has declined jurisdiction because this offence is so serious,” he said. “We are going to pass matters to the Crown Court for this to be dealt with.

“You will reappear on April 10 at 10am for a preliminary hearing. We are going to grant you bail not to enter Swindon within the area marked defined on the map, but we are prepared to relax those conditions. You must not enter that area but can travel through it on public transport or in a motorcar, but you are not to leave any of those modes of transport.”