ROCK star Bryan Ferry's son Otis is to claim he was NOT the man who robbed and assaulted two women Hunt monitors during a meeting of the Heythrop Hunt in the Cotswolds last November.

When Ferry made his first appearance on the charges at Gloucester crown court today his barrister made it plain that the defence will be one of mistaken identity.

Judge Martin Picton, setting a timetable leading to trial in September, asked "The issue is simply that it was not him, is it?"

Defence counsel Phillip Lucas replied "Yes."

The two women who were allegedly robbed and assaulted were filming the activities of the Hunt in North Gloucestershire last November to ensure foxes were not being pursued when the alleged offences were committed.

Ferry, of Keepers Cottage, Cross Hands, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, is charged with robbing Susan Grima of a Samsung video camera of unknown value and assaulting Helen Ghalmi by beating her.

Both offences were allegedly committed at Lower Swell, near Stow on November 21 last year.

Ferry, wearing a blue suit, lilac shirt and blue tie with white spots, was in the dock for five minutes at today's preliminary hearing and spoke only to say 'Yes' when asked his name.

Prosecuting barrister Janine Wood asked for 42 days to serve the full case papers on he defence and Judge Picton agreed.

Mr Lucas asked the judge not to set a trial date today because the defence had not yet had a list of the names of witnesses of the alleged incident.

He said the defence would like a list of names so it could investigate and check their available dates for trial.

But the Judge said it was court policy to set trial dates and if there were problems with witness availability at a later stage they could be addressed then.

He said the papers would be served on the defence on June 25, the defence would have to produce its case statement by July 9 and Ferry would appear for a plea and case management hearing on July 25.

He estimated the trial will last four days and he said it would be held at Cirencester court in the week of September 15.

10:57am Wednesday 14th May 2008

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