A MARRIED couple accused of standing on the head of a vulnerable man and repeatedly punching him on the ground have denied causing him actual bodily harm.

Fiona Handley, pictured right, aged 41, and Jonathan Handley, pictured left, aged 40, both pleaded not guilty at Plymouth Crown Court to attacking the 64-year-old, who has learning difficulties, late at night outside a city pub.

The couple, both of Greatlands Crescent, North Prospect, are accused of assault causing actual bodily harm outside the Britannia Inn in Wolseley Road, Milehouse, at around 12.45am on Friday, October 30, last year.

At their previous hearing before Plymouth magistrates they appeared in custody, a bail application having been refused.

The magistrates ruled that the case was so serious that it should be heard before a judge at Plymouth Crown Court.

At the time, it was reported that the man was standing outside the pub with his Yorkshire terrier in his arms when he was allegedly attacked.

Yesterday at the Crown Court, the couple were both granted conditional bail by Judge Francis Gilbert QC until their trial, set for July 5.

Fiona Handley and her husband both spoke only to confirm their names and plead not guilty to the single joint charge.