THREE Dursley men accused of assaulting a 33-year-old shopkeeper in Stroud have been remanded in custody for a month because their lawyer was not ready to proceed with the case.

Brothers Jonathan French-Bell, 27, and Stephen Randlesome, 19, and Benjamin Strange, 21, are all accused of wounding Amandeep Cheema, known as Amo Singh, with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm in Cashes Green on March 26.

French-Bell and Randlesome, who gave a listed address of Victoria Drive, Eastington, are also charged with assaulting a 15-year-old boy, who cannot be named, causing him actual bodily harm on the same date.

Strange, who gave an address of Mitre Pitch, Wotton-under-Edge, is not accused of attacking the boy.

All three are originally from Dursley.

It is alleged that the boy, who was in a fish and chip shop in Queens Drive, Cashes Green, that night was initially attacked and Mr Cheema, who runs a nearby store, went to his aid.

At Gloucester Crown Court today, Judge Michael Cullum and the defence solicitor, Sarah Jenkins, watched CCTV footage of the incident behind closed doors before the three defendants were brought into the dock.

Mrs Jenkins said she had only just been instructed by the defendants and she was not yet fully briefed in the case.

It was likely there would be a conflict of interests between two of the defendants and the other one, and that one would have to be represented by a different lawyer at future hearings, she said.

It is alleged that Mr Singh was hit with crowbars and that a car was driven into him at speed and ran over him as he lay on the ground.

He suffered a head wound which required stitches, bruises all over his body, and needed two metal plates inserted in a broken wrist.

At today's hearing Judge Michael Cullum said he was not happy to take pleas from the defendants given that Mrs Jenkins was new to the case and that one of the defendants may have different representation at trial.

He adjourned today's plea and management case to hearing to June 9 and remanded all three defendants in custody until then.

The trial, scheduled to last six days, was fixed for October 9.