A 27-year-old Carlisle man has appeared before magistrates in Carlisle charged with attempting to rob a worker at a Spar shop in the city.

Donovan Hetherington, of Port Road, is alleged to have committed the offence at 10.30pm in the shop on Newtown Road on July 28.

He also faces three further charges.

They are that he stole coffee and soap tablets from the same Spar shop on the same day; that he possessed a knife without lawful authority while he was in the Spar shop on July 28; and that he escaped from lawful custody while at The Cumberland Infirmary on July 29.

At the city's Rickergate magistrates's court, Hetherington – represented by defence lawyer Anthony Wilson – confirmed that he was not ready to enter pleas.

Magistrates remanded him in custody and sent his case to the city's crown court for a hearing on August 29, when he is likely to be asked to enter pleas. There was no application for bail, Mr Wilson told the court.

Meanwhile, Cumbria Police have renewed their appeal for witnesses to the alleged attempted robbery.

Anyone with any information should email 101@cumbria.police.uk or call 101 and ask to speak to PC Dawn Grant or an officer from North Cumbria CID.

Alternatively you can contact Crimestoppers, anonymously, on 0800 555 111.