ROCK star Bryan Ferry's son Otis is in Cirencester’s courthouse right now facing trial on charges of robbery and assault.

Charles Frederick Otis Ferry, 25, has denied robbing a woman Hunt monitor and assaulting another during a meeting of the Heythrop Hunt at Lower Swell, near Stow on the Wold.

Before the jury was selected from a panel of 16 at Gloucester Crown Court, sitting in Cirencester, yesterday Judge Martin Picton told them: "This case concerns an incident that took place involving hunting and the Heythrop Hunt in particular. Other Hunts will be mentioned.

"Hunting is going to feature in this case. If, for example, any of you were members of a Hunt or hunt supporters - or members of any kind of anti hunting movement - I would like to know now because I would stand you down.

"I wouldn't have you on the jury if you were in any way involved on either side of the debate.

"What I want is 12 people of neutral mind who can assess the evidence objectively and come to it without any preconceived views."

None of the 12 selected jurors - seven women and five men - indicated any problems and they were duly sworn in to try Mr Ferry, of Keepers Cottage, Cross Hands, Easton Mascott, Shropshire.

They were told Mr Ferry, son of the Roxy Music star, has denied robbing Helen Ghalmi of a Samsung video camera belonging to Susan Grima and a set of keys on Nov 21 last year.

He has also denied common assault on Helen Ghalmi by beating her on the same date.

A group of about half a dozen animal welfare campaigners were outside court well before proceedings got under way today support the alleged victims.

They then packed into the small public gallery to hear the proceedings.

The prosecution this morning opened its case against Mr Ferry. For an update on the trial buy Thursday’s Standard.