A trial date has been set for a County Durham man who has been charged with stabbing a detective in the chest at a high-security prison.

David Taylor, 62, formerly of Willington, is charged with attempted murder after stabbing an officer during an interview at HMP Frankland in Durham on July 23.

Mr Taylor appeared at Teesside Crown Court via videolink for a preliminary hearing but was not asked to enter a plea.

Judge Francis Laird KC told Mr Taylor that his trial would begin on February 17, with a plea hearing planned for November 7.

HMP Frankland, located in Brasside, Durham, is a category A prison.

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It is home to some of the country's most severe offenders, with a population exceeding 800 men.

Among the inmates is thought to be Damien Bendall, serving a life sentence for murdering his partner and three children in Killamarsh, Derbyshire, in 2021.

Others thought to be held at the prison include former policeman Wayne Couzens, who kidnapped and murdered Sarah Everard, and Levi Bellfield, who killed Marsha McDonnell, Milly Dowler, and Amelie Delagrange, and also attempted to kill Kate Sheedy.