Man charged in connection with disturbance in Abbots Langley

A man has been charged and remanded in connection with a disturbance in Abbots Langley.

James Diston, aged 30, of Fairfield Avenue, Droylsden, Manchester, has been charged with:

• Section 18 GBH (Grievous Bodily Harm)
• Possession of an offensive weapon
• Assault of an emergency worker
• Breach of bail

The charges relate to an incident in Broomfield Rise just before 6.30pm on Sunday 16 July, where a man aged in his 30s suffered puncture wounds to his arm and abdomen. He was taken to hospital, but his injuries were assessed as non-life threatening.

Diston appeared at Hatfield Magistrates’ Court today (Tuesday 18 July) and was remanded in custody. He is due to appear at St Albans Crown Court on Tuesday 15 August, for a pre-trial preparation hearing.

Detective Sergeant Tony Quince, from the Three Rivers Local Crime Unit, said: “This incident, while isolated between parties known to one another, understandably caused alarm in the community due to the large-scale police response, so I’m pleased that a charge has been secured as part of our investigation. We now await the next scheduled court date.”

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