A 29-YEAR-OLD Bourton on the Water man is to stand jury trial next month after denying a domestic violence charge.

At Gloucester Crown Court Jake Turner, of Melville, Bourton, pleaded not guilty to assaulting Rhiannon Dunn causing her actual bodily harm in Bourton on December 9.

He pleaded guilty, however, to damaging a wardrobe belonging to Ms Dunn on the same date.

Prosecutor Janine Wood said his denial of the violence charge was not acceptable and there would have to be a trial.

Judge Ian Lawrie QC said he was unhappy with the prosecution's requirement for three months to prepare the case. That length of time was 'ridiculous' in a simple case that would take two days to try, he said.

He set a timetable for progression of the case which will allow Turner's trial to take place on April 30.

Turner was bailed until then.

"Speed is of the essence - you need resolution to this case sooner rather than later," the judge told him.