A MAN accused of trying to kill and rob three people in North Ayrshire has had his the date of his High Court trial delayed for a second time.

Dylan Shanks faces charges of robbery and attempted murder over incidents in Kilwinning and Irvine almost exactly two years ago.

The case first called in court in February 2022.

It's alleged that Mr Shanks attempted to murder James Connelly and Natalie McDermont with the intent of robbing them at a house in Irvine on January 14, 2021. 

The Crown claims that the 21-year-old acted along with an accomplice, both of whom were masked and in possession of a hammer and a knife.

Mr Shanks is alleged to have uttered threats to both Mr Connelly and Miss McDermont, demanding cash from them, and to have made further demands for drugs to Mr Connelly.

Prosecutors accuse Mr Shanks of repeatedly striking Mr Connelly in the head and body with the hammer - which, the Crown claims, led to his "severe injury, permanent disfigurement and to the danger of his life".

Court papers also claim that Mr Shanks struck Miss McDermont with both a hammer and a knife, leaving her unconscious, severely injured, permanently disfigured and endangering her life.

Mr Shanks faces the same accusation of attempting to murder a man with intent to rob him in connection with another alleged incident in Kilwinning on February 19, 2021.

This charge claims that he asked a man named Stuart Walker for money, pushed Mr Walker, struck him on the head with a sharp implement - leaving the man severely injured, permanently disfigured and impaired, to the danger of his life.

Mr Shanks denies all the charges against him.

The case first called at a short hearing at the High Court in Glasgow on February 16, 2022, when defence QC - now KC - Thomas Ross entered pleas of not guilty on his client's behalf.

Both Mr Ross and prosecutor Louise Beattie agreed a trial could be fixed.

Judge Lady Stacey originally set a trial date for August 1 last year, but this was later delayed until February 7, 2023.

However, when Mr Shanks appeared at the High Court in Glasgow again last week, the prosecution and defence jointly asked for another new trial date to be fixed.

Mr Shanks has been remanded in custody since his first court appearance, and will remain there until the new trial date in early August.