A Brampton man has been temporarily banned from contacting his brother after he was formally accused of assaulting him.

Martin Hodgson, 29, of St Martin's Drive in the town, denied two allegations when he appeared before magistrates at Carlisle's Rickergate courts complex.

The first is that he assaulted his brother Johnathon Hodgson by beating - in other words a common assault - on December 4 last year.

The second charge is that he used threatening, abusive, or insulting words or behaviour against the same brother on March 25 this year.

That alleged offence is also said to have happened in Brampton.

District Judge Gerald Chalk ruled that the case will be decided by a half-day trial which will get underway on the afternoon of June 8.

The defendant was granted bail on condition that he has no contact with his brother and that he does not go to his address in Brampton.

During the brief hearing, the defendant spoke only when he was asked to confirm his name and his current address by the court clerk.

The defendant was not legally represented during the hearing.