with pic of Mark Norris

THREE men accused of hijacking a lorry carrying alcopops have appeared before Leicester Crown Court.

Geoffrey Royal, aged 28, Stephen Catterall, aged 28, and Mark Norris, aged 36, deny robbing Malcolm Simmons of his lorry.

The trio have also pleaded not guilty to kidnapping and falsely imprisoning Mr Simmons, the driver of an Eddie Stobart truck. Norris, of Elgin Street, Bolton, and Catterall, of Starhills Road, Newchurch, Rossendale, further deny setting fire to the lorry.

The incident was said to have occurred on the A444 in Leicestershire on May 14. Judge Peter De Mille adjourned the case for a trial, to be held in the first week of February.

Norris was released on bail. Royal, of no fixed address but from the Bolton area, and Catterall were remanded back into custody.

Co-defendants David Norris, aged 53, of Parkfield Road, Great Lever, and David Young, aged 47, of Hough Lane, Bromley Cross, who deny handling bottles of alcopops, were not required to attend court yesterday.