Cheltenham stab suspect 'believed woman worked at GCHQ' - court told

A man allegedly stabbed a woman who he believed worked for intelligence agency GCHQ, a court has heard.

Joshua Bowles, 29, of Welwyn Mews in Cheltenham, is charged with attempted murder and causing actual bodily harm.

He was remanded in custody after a hearing at Westminster Magistrates' Court in London on Thursday.

A woman sustained serious injuries after the attack and is in a stable condition, police had said.

The victim, who was not named in court, was stabbed outside a leisure centre on Tommy Taylors Lane in Cheltenham at about 21:15 GMT on 9 March.

The court heard Mr Bowles is alleged to have punched and stabbed the woman with a knife in the car park, before attacking her in the leisure centre where she had gone to try to escape.

Prosecutor Kathryn Selby alleged Mr Bowles believed "she is a worker for GCHQ and he holds views on the work he believes they conduct. In his mind she represents the state".

Mr Bowles has also been charged with causing actual bodily harm to Alex Fuentes.

The court was told it is alleged Mr Fuentes was repeatedly punched by the defendant when he tried to intervene.

Mr Bowles is due to appear at the Old Bailey on 31 March.

Follow BBC West on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Send your story ideas to: [email protected]