A man has appeared in court accused of giving his wife laxatives without her knowledge.

Richard Black, of Vale View Road, Dover, has been charged with administering a poison or noxious thing with the intent to injure or aggrieve.

The alleged incident is said to have occurred in Dover between June 8 and June 12 last year.

The 51-year-old appeared before Folkestone Magistrates’ Court on February 29.

While in the dock, he gave no indication of his plea and no other details about the alleged offence were revealed.

Magistrates decided to send his case to Canterbury Crown Court to be dealt with and Black is expected to appear there for a preliminary hearing on April 2.

Black was granted bail until then.