TWO teenagers, accused of wounding a man and stealing his friend's handbag, have been charged with a more serious offence.

The pair, 18-year-old Callum Finter and a 17-year-old youth who cannot be named for legal reasons, appeared yesterday at Bradford and Keighley Magistrates' Court.

They had both been charged with inflicting grievous bodily harm on Christopher Johnson, contrary to the Offences Against the Person Act, on Sunday, October 5, last year in Wibsey High Street.

Yesterday, prosecutor Nadine Clough, during a brief five-minute hearing, told District Judge Susan Bouch that a new, indictable-only charge of causing grievous bodily harm with intent was being preferred.

The judge said the new charge had to be sent to the crown court.

Miss Clough said the youth's case should go to the crown court with the adult, in the interests of justice.

Finter, of Cranbrook Avenue, Odsal, Bradford, and the youth, of Bradford, are both also charged with theft from person, stealing a handbag and contents belonging to Emma Dyson on the same date.

The youth faces a further charge of possessing an imitation firearm, a BB gun or toy gun, with intent to cause fear of violence to Christopher Johnson on the same date.

Rashida Khan, representing Finter, and Bilal Khan, for the 17-year-old, said their clients both indicated they would plead not guilty to the charge of wounding with intent.

Finter, slim, clean shaven, with short brown hair and wearing blue jeans, a grey jumper, black zip up top and black shirt, and the youth, spoke to confirm their names, addresses and date of birth during the short hearing.

The youth, clean shaven, with short auburn hair, and a silver stud in his ear, was accompanied by his mother.

District Judge Bouch renewed the bail of both defendants, on condition that they did not contact the complainants and did not associate with each other.

They are next due to appear at Bradford Crown Court on April 27.

The judge ordered that nothing could be reported to identify the youth.

Mr Johnson, 39, a laboratory technician, suffered a fractured cheekbone and eye socket and collapsed with a bleed on the brain following an incident at half past midnight.

He was walking with Miss Dyson, a 35-year-old community care officer, in Wibsey High Street at the time.

Mr Johnson, of Wibsey, was detained in hospital for two days.