A thirteen-year-old boy is to face trial by jury alongside three other youths accused of attacking a man in the town centre.

The youngster pleaded not guilty to charges of robbery and grievous bodily harm with intent when he appeared before a judge at Swindon Crown Court today.

The schoolboy, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was in the dock with Scott McFarlane and Ben Read, both 20, and Samuel Thiel, 19.

All four are accused of robbing a 37-year-old man of a mobile phone and wallet on Wednesday July 25 as well as inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

Read, of County Road, pleaded guilty to robbing Darryl James of only his phone and denied the assault allegation.

McFarlane, of Verwood Close, Park North, and Thiel, of Rutland Road, Walcot, and the youngster from Park North all pleaded not guilty to both charges.

The case against all four was adjourned to Monday January 14 next year when they are due to stand trial before a jury.

Read and Thiel were remanded in custody while McFarlane and the 13-year-old were released on bail.

The four are said to have attacked and robbed Mr James in the Granville Street car park at about 11.15pm on Wednesday July 25 leaving him with facial injuries and a broken hip.