A man accused of slashing a police officer's hand will appear before a crown court judge next month.

Lewis Frost, 25, of Horton, near Devizes, has been charged with assault causing actual bodily harm, possession of a blade, failing to provide a specimen of breath, two counts of assaulting an emergency worker and breaching police bail conditions to remain at home.

Appearing before Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, he entered no pleas to the charges and was bailed to attend a plea and trial preparation hearing at Swindon Crown Court on May 15.

Under the conditions of his bail he must sleep every night at his home in Horton.

Frost’s court appearance followed an incident on Tuesday, April 14. Police were called to Avebury at around 10pm after reports a man had tried to jump in front of a minibus.

The young man is said to have pulled a razor blade from his pocket and, when he was being detained, cut a PC Steele in the hand.

He was arrested and taken to Gablecross police station for questioning. The wound had to be stitched.

Supt Gavin Williams said: "Assaults on officers of any kind are completely unacceptable - every day, officers are coming to work to protect the public and assaults like this should not be seen as part of the job. It shows nothing but disregard for the officer's safety and health."