A man and woman accused of using poison to carry out an illegal abortion are to face trial after denying the charges against them. 

Swindon man Elliot Benham and Sophie Harvey, both aged 23, pleaded not guilty to four charges at Gloucester Crown Court on February 16.

These charges included procuring poison to cause a miscarriage, concealing the birth of a child and perverting the course of justice by disposing of the baby's body.

Harvey, of St Mary’s Road in Cirencester, was also charged with procuring her own miscarriage - which she denies.

The four alleged offences took place between September 1 and December 1 in 2018.

Judge Ian Lawrie KC, the Recorder of Gloucester, fixed a trial date at Cirencester Court for November 13. It is expected to last around five days.

Benham and Harvey, both dressed in black, spoke only to confirm their names and enter pleas of not guilty. 

The pair were released on bail on the condition they have no unsupervised contact with any child under the age of five, and not to obtain any travel documents.

Judge Lawrie told Benham, of Wingfield in Kingsdown, to immediately surrender his passport to Gablecross Police Station in Swindon.

The defendants, who both reside at St Mary’s Road, Cirencester, will next appear before Gloucester Crown Court for a case review on May 12.