SIX people have appeared in court after a man and woman were badly hurt when a car was allegedly used as a weapon on a residential Carlisle street.

Five men and a woman were jointly charged following an incident which was said to have occurred just after 6am on Tuesday, 24th October, at Gloucester Road, behind Blackwell Road, in Currock.

Police responded amid a report of fighting in the street with officers finding a woman and a man, both aged in their 40s, with serious injuries.  These were described as “serious but not life-threatening”, a police spokesman had said.

Both were detained in hospital for treatment and later discharged.

Police made a number of arrests in the aftermath and charged six people in connection with the incident. All appeared at Carlisle Crown Court on Friday afternoon (November 24). 

They are Nicky Maxwell, 33, of no fixed address; Aaron Devaney, 35, of no fixed address; Craig Metcalfe, 42, of Silloth Street; Amy Farrell, Thirlwell Gardens; 45; Stuart Kendrick, 41, of Ashness Drive, and Michael Lowry, of Millholme Avenue, all Carlisle.

All jointly face four charges. Two allege that they unlawfully and maliciously caused grievous bodily harm with intent, to the injured man and woman. A third charge alleges that each defendant assaulted a second female, causing actual bodily harm. And a further charge alleges affray.

These charges were put to all of the defendants — apart from Lowry — and in response those five pleaded not guilty in turn to each of the charges.

It has been alleged by a prosecutor that the man and woman were injured, suffering fractures, when a car was used as a weapon.

A jury trial was listed and is due to start on May 13 next year. It is estimated that this could last around two weeks. In the meantime all of the male defendants have been remanded in custody. Farrell remains on bail.

Defendants heading to trial were reminded by Judge Nicholas Barker that in due course they must co-operate with their legal teams to prepare a document known as a defence statement. This will outline their defence to the charges and issues put forward by the prosecution with which they disagree.