A SWINDON man accused of murdering his parents could be too ill to plead to the charges.

Timothy Crook of Thames Avenue, Greenmeadow, is charged with killing dad Robert, 82, and mum Elsie, 76, at their home on or about July 11 last year.

He is alleged to have driven their bodies more than 150 miles to Lincoln, in the couple's new Nissan Micra.

The 43-year-old was due to enter his plea in person at Bristol Crown Court yesterday.

But two doctors acting for the defence have compiled psychiatric reports, which agree he is not in a position to make a plea.

The court heard how he was currently a patient in Rampton Secure Hospital, a high-security psychiatric establishment near Retford in Nottinghamshire.

Nigel Lickley, defending, said: "Both doctors' medical reports state he is not fit to plead.

"I'm anxious to gain further information."

It's almost a year ago to the day when police found a bloodstained hammer, which was thought to be the murder weapon, in a shed in the Crook's back garden.

The Crooks' car was found at Newark railway station in Nottinghamshire.

Crook appeared on July 16 at Swindon Magistrates Court where Richard Thomas, prosecuting, said that Mrs Crook had been "savagely beaten" and had died as a result of those injuries.

Her husband was also beaten, but is thought to have died from strangulation.

Stacy Turner, from the Wiltshire Crown Prosecution Service, explained yesterday's ruling.

"The position is that in December, there will be a hearing before the judge to initially determine whether or not he is fit to plead or fit to stand trial," she said.

"There have been two defence psychiatric reports that say he is unfit to plead.

"If it is judged he is not fit to plead in December then a hearing could be set to determine the facts of the case and whether or not he is responsible.

"He has been ordered to stay in custody and a transfer order is in place so he will be sent to a secure hospital."

The case will appear before the judge again on December 1 and 15, when a final decision will be made on whether Crook is well enough to stand trial.

Judge John Foley extended the amount of time Crook can be held in custody until December 17.