A 16-year-old boy has appeared in custody at Bradford Crown Court accused of trying to kill a girl aged 12.

The teenager, who lives in the Ilkley area but cannot be named because of his age, is charged with attempted murder, possession of an offensive weapon and committing an offence with the intention of committing a sexual offence.

The alleged offences relate to an incident on Sunday, April 21, when police were called shortly before noon to a report of an assault on a girl in Ben Rhydding.

The boy’s barrister, Nick Johnson, yesterday asked for a psychiatric assessment on the teenager before he next appears in court on July 5.

A date for his four-day trial was fixed for September 16.

Judge Jonathan Durham Hall QC ordered that funding be made available for the medical report.

The boy has been remanded into the care of the local authority.