By Emily Parsons

Last updated at 14:05, Tuesday, 22 May 2012

A brother and sister are accused of attacking a woman and her partner, in a bid to get them to “withdraw witness statements”.

Zoe Twentyman, 31, and her brother Matthew Young, 26, both of Selina Terrace, Maryport, went on trial at Carlisle Crown Court charged with one count each of intimidating a witness.

Jonathan Clarke told the jury the incident followed on from a separate allegation the previous day.

He said that on April 12 last year, there was an incident with Zoe Twentyman and her husband Adam, and Jonathon Wood and his partner Carrie-Ann Brough, in Selina Terrace.

Mr Wood called the police who subsequently took statements from Miss Brough and him.

Mr Clarke told the jury that Zoe Twentyman and her brother attacked Mr Wood and Miss Brough the following day on April 13, as they got out of their car.

He said: “A white Seat Leon car reversed into The Cut. The man immediately got out of the car and approached them [Mr Wood and Miss Brough] in an aggressive manner.

He said he pushed Mr Wood up against the wall, telling him to drop the charges or he would pull his teeth out. Zoe Twentyman appeared and grabbed hold of Miss Brough by her throat and pushed her also up against the wall, he told the court.

Twentyman and Young deny the charges, insisting they were attacked first and acted in self-defence.

First published at 11:28, Tuesday, 22 May 2012
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk