A 29-YEAR-old man has denied slashing the tyres of eight police cars before raiding a Moreton-in-Marsh garage and stealing a cash machine in November last year.

At Gloucester Crown Curt Frankie Butler, of Pershore Lane, Hindlip, near Worcester, pleaded not guilty to charges of burglary and damaging property and was bailed to await a four-day jury trial starting on October 5.

Because of the coronavirus restrictions the hearing was conducted by telephone conference with Butler, his lawyer and the prosecutor all dialling into the court.

It is alleged that Butler was one of at least three people involved in the burglary on November 9 last year when 18 tyres of patrol cars parked at Stow-on-the-Wold police station were slashed, causing £1,800 worth of damage, before the Eurogarage service station at Moreton was burgled and an ATM taken.

The prosecution confirmed that although three people are said to have been involved, no one else has been arrested or charged and that Butler will stand trial alone.

Judge Michael Cullum bailed Butler pending the trial in October but also told him he will need to attend a progression hearing on August 3.