Woman stabbed at leisure centre worked for GCHQ

A woman stabbed outside a leisure centre in Cheltenham was working for the government security agency GCHQ, prosecutors have confirmed.

Joshua Bowles allegedly stabbed the woman in a car park in Tommy Taylors Lane on 9 March.

Mr Bowles, 29, is further accused of punching a man who tried to intervene.

He is due to stand trial in October accused of the attempted murder of the woman and causing actual bodily harm to Alex Fuentes.

The woman is referred to in the charges by the code name "99230" and prosecutors said in court they would apply for an anonymity order banning the reporting of her name.

GCHQ is the government agency concerned with communications and cyber intelligence gathering.

At a brief hearing at the Old Bailey earlier, Mr Justice Baker set the trial date and listed a plea and trial preparation hearing for 28 July.

Mr Bowles, of Welwyn Mews in Cheltenham, appeared via video link dressed in a grey prison tracksuit.

He spoke only to confirm his name and address.

Previously, at Westminster Magistrates' Court, the court heard Mr Bowles was alleged to have punched and stabbed the woman with a knife in a car park.

He then allegedly attacked her in a leisure centre, where she had gone to try to escape.

Justice Baker told the defendant: "The next occasion you are going to be appearing at court is on the 28 July with a trial to follow on 3 October of this year.

"For the time being at least you will remain in custody."

The trial is due to take place at Birmingham Crown Court.

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