A man and a 16-year-old boy have appeared in court accused of wounding with intent after a dad was found stabbed at his Maldon home.

Michael Cooper, 27, who lives in a caravan park in Thorney Bay Road, Canvey, and the boy from Westcliff, who cannot be named for legal reasons, were jointly charged with unlawfully and maliciously wounding Justin Widdowfield, 42, and aiming to cause grievous bodily harm.

They did not enter a plea when they appeared at Chelmsford Magistrates Court today, two days after the attack in St Peter’s Avenue.

Magistrates declined jurisdiction and sent the case to Chelmsford Crown Court for trial, where the pair will appear on May 12 for a preliminary hearing.

See next week's Standard for the full story.