A man appeared before a crown court judge accused of trying to murder a prison nurse.

Aaron Gardner, 36, spoke only to confirm his name as he came before Oxford Crown Court on Friday afternoon.

He was not asked to enter pleas to the allegations he faces and Judge Nigel Daly remanded him in custody to return to court in August for an adjourned plea hearing.

The trial date was provisionally set for mid-November. It is expected to be held in front of Judge Daly.

Last month, the city magistrates’ court heard bearded Gardner was accused of the attempted murder of a healthcare worker in HMP Bullingdon on February 18.

He said to have stabbed the woman in the neck using a shard of porcelain wrapped in a sock-and-facemask handle.

Gardner is accused of then taking ‘swipes’ with the makeshift knife at gaolers who came to the woman’s aid.

He faces allegations of attempted murder, attempting to cause grievous bodily harm with intent to do grievous bodily harm, and three counts of unauthorised possession of an offensive weapon in prison.

He is accused of having a porcelain shard wrapped in a sock and facemask to form a makeshift weapon on February 18 and 19.

The defendant is also accused of having a razor blade fixed in a plastic toothbrush handle on February 19.

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This story was written by Tom Seaward. He joined the team in 2021 as Oxfordshire's court and crime reporter.  

To get in touch with him email: Tom.Seaward@newsquest.co.uk

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