Two dozen men, women and boys accused of some of the most serious criminal charges the courts will deal with this year appeared before Swindon’s two judges today.

In an effort to cut through the backlog of serious cases, judges Peter Crabtree and Jason Taylor doffed their wigs and sat as district judges to take the first hearings for those charged with everything from rape to robbery.

The judges were only dealing with indictable cases, those for which pleas can only be taken at the crown court.

Over four-and-a-half hours the pair heard 24 cases. Three bench warrants were issued after the two men and a boy failed to show up to answer pleas to – respectively - causing actual bodily harm, perverting the course of justice and robbery. One of the warrants was withdrawn after the man turned up to court, albeit an hour late.

The majority of those accused were bailed to return to the crown court for plea hearings on July 31.

The following appeared before the courts:

Sheldon Thomas, 39, of Rosebery Street, indicated he would plead guilty to wounding with intent and possession of a knife on May 10 last year.

David Potts, 65, of Mountain Ash Close, Colchester, charged with perverting the course of justice and making indecent images of children.

Bethany Cole, 22, of Haydon Court, is accused of perverting the course of justice.

Steven Stratton, 50, of Holbein Square, Grange Park, has been charged with administering pepper spray with intent to injure or annoy.

Ibrahim Abdulkareem, 32, of Casterbridge Road, accused of being in possession of a false ID document with intent.

Callum Urquhart, 37, of Alma Court, Bristol, faces six counts of sexual assault by touching and a single count of assaulting a woman by penetrating her vagina.

William Jeffcoat, 29, of Oxford Street, Aldbourne, accused of two counts of wounding with intent, possession of an offensive weapon - a hockey stick - and theft of a £20 bottle of wine. 

Mason Swain, 20, of Beatrice Street, Gorse Hill, indicated a guilty plea to wounding with intent. An affray charge was withdrawn.

Summer Tsokos, 21, of Havisham Drive, pleaded guilty to an affray. Anthony Wear, 20, of Middleleaze Drive, indicated a not guilty plea to the same charge.

James Uyterhoeven-Pursey, 27, of Queens Drive, pleaded guilty to dangerous driving and indicates likely guilty pleas to perverting the course of justice.

Alexandru Dediu, 31, of Wood Lane, Chippenham, charged with rape.

Lewis Morton, 19, of no fixed address, and Jake Frampton, 19, of Heddington Close, Swindon, indicated guilty pleas to robbery. A third defendant, aged 17, admitted robbery and was sent to the youth court for sentence.

Jace Green, 18, of Russet Court, Warminster and Bradley Henry, 18, of Princess Gardens, Warminster, indicated guilty pleas to a single charge of robbery.

Ben Clough, 27, of Sambourne Gardens, Warminster, is charged with causing grievous bodily harm with intent and a simple GBH.

Darren Ford, 48, of Chalford Gardens, Westbury, is charged with causing the same victim actual bodily harm.

Nicholas Howard, 38, of Faringdon Road, charged with rape.

Derek Williams, 53, of Sandgate, Swindon, charged with perverting the course of justice, drink driving, drug driving and driving without a licence and insurance.

Sarah Mann, 37, of Cranmore Avenue, accused of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.