Man charged with obstructing Covid-19 testing site staff in York fails to attend court as warrant is issued for his arrest

Arthur Taylor, 61,of Wakefield, was due to attend York Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, charged with obstructing a person who was engaged in lawful activity, but failed to attend.

Two other men - Marty Blagborough, 28, of Leeds, and Edward Warren, 60, of Leeds, who are also charged with the same offence, appeared at court and pleaded not guilty to the charge against them.

Blagborough also denied a separate offence of using threatening words or behaviour.

The men were arrested on Monday, January 11, following reports a group had attended the Poppleton Park testing site in York and were acting in an aggressive and threatening manner towards staff.

Blaborough and Warren will appear at York Magistrates' Court for trial on October 18.

Both were granted conditional bail and must not enter North Yorkshire except to attend their court hearings.