A TEENAGER charged with murdering a man following a fatal assault on a petrol station forecourt has been granted bail by a judge.

The 15-year-old, who cannot be named for legal reasons, was granted conditional bail following a hearing at Teesside Crown Court before Judge Howard Crowson.

Earlier this week a provisional trial date was set for March next year.

The youth was charged following the incident in Annfield Plain, near Stanley, in the early hours of September 26, in which Thomas Mallaby, 40, from Sacriston, was fatally injured.

Read more: Shock following death of man after attack at petrol station 

Mr Mallaby was taken to Newcastle’s Royal Victoria Infirmary for emergency treatment but died two days later.

Read more: Support for family of father-of-five killed in County Durham garage attack

Durham Police have stressed the incident was “not connected in any way” to the nationwide problems over fuel deliveries.

The teenager will appear before the same court on November 19 for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

Keep up to date with all the latest news on our website, or follow us on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

You can also follow our dedicated County Durham Facebook page for all the latest in the area by clicking here.

For all the top news updates from right across the region straight to your inbox, sign up to our newsletter here.

Have you got a story for us? Contact our newsdesk on newsdesk@nne.co.uk or contact 01325 505054