A GROUP of men charged with a mixture of offences including malicious wounding with intent, conspiracy to rob and making threats of violence have appeared in court.

Piers Fox-Havilland, of Grosvenor Place, Margate, and Reece Watkins, of Vallance Road, North London, both appeared at Bournemouth Crown Court via video link, while three Christchurch men - Liam Moss, of Druitt Road, Stuart Thomas, of Troak Close, and Alex Williams, of Masterson Close - all appeared in person.

The group, along with two other defendants due to appear for a preliminary hearing at the same court next week, are accused of numerous offences said to have taken place in Bournemouth and Christchurch between October last year and January this year.

Fox-Havilland, 18, is charged with conspiracy to rob, as is Watkins, 21, who also faces two counts of malicious wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, two counts of threatening unlawful violence, and further counts of attempted malicious wounding, making threats with intent to pervert the course of justice, and taking two vehicles without consent.

Moss, 19, is charged with possessing a knife in Stour Road, Christchurch, and with threatening unlawful violence, while Thomas, 22, faces one count of causing grievous bodily harm, two of attempting the same and a further count of making threats of violence.

Williams, 22, is charged with two counts of attempting to cause grievous bodily harm and one of threatening violence.

Judge John Harrow remanded Fox-Havilland and Watkins back into custody, and released the other three defendants on conditional bail, to return to the court on August 7 for a plea and case management hearing.

Two further defendants alleged to be linked to the group are due to appear in court on Tuesday next week.

Dominic Barker, 19, and Joe Warne, 20, are both currently in custody at HMP Lewes.

Among other offences, including conspiracy to rob and threatening violence, the former is accused of possessing a weapon designed or adapted for the discharge of a noxious liquid, namely ammonia.

Warne's charges include malicious wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and two counts of attempting the same.