A 48-year-old man charged with attempted murder after a stabbing in Worcester did not appear in court because he could not be produced over a prison videolink.

Paul Cave of Foxall Street, Worcester is accused of the attempted murder of Paul Clarke, also known as Paul Gill. The defendant was due to appear over videolink yesterday at Worcester Magistrates Court charged with the attack on September 20 last year. West Mercia Police has previously confirmed there was a stabbing and appealed for witnesses to the alleged attack.

An eyewitness described seeing a man stumble out of Nash's Passage, which connects New Street with City Walls Road near Papa’s Caffè, at around 6pm on the day of the incident. Having emerged bleeding heavily from the alleyway, the alleged victim, in his 30s, made his way down to Charles Street where he collapsed, eyewitnesses said.

Police tape was used to cordon off all of Charles Street and part of New Street near Retroids and Sin.

The clerk said the court was unable to produce Cave but another man linked to the case, Lee Raymond, did attend the court in person. His case was adjourned until a videolink could be established with Cave.

Raymond, 40, of Borrowdale Drive, Warndon, Worcester is charged with assisting an offender in relation to that alleged attempted murder between September 19 and October 2 last year by assisting Paul Cave to leave the scene of a serious assault and by providing accommodation for him. The clerk asked him if he wished to take off his mask in the court and he did so. In the short hearing Raymond, who was represented by solicitor Nick Roberts, spoke only to confirm his name, address and date of birth.

The clerk told him: “We have no choice but to adjourn the case. It’s best if your case is kept together with his.”

The case was adjourned for a videolink on October 12 this year at Worcester Magistrates Court. Raymond was granted unconditional bail to the same date in the meantime.