Welwyn Garden City golf club kidnap accused appears in court

Tianfu Guo, 35, is charged with kidnap, blackmail and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent

A man accused of kidnapping a wealthy businessman at a golf club has appeared in court.

Tianfu Guo, 35, of no fixed abode, is charged with kidnap, blackmail and inflicting grievous bodily harm with intent.

The allegations relate to an incident at Brocket Hall golf club near Welwyn Garden City in Hertfordshire on 24 October.

A provisional trial date was fixed for April.

In a hearing a St Albans Crown Court, the defendant spoke only to confirm his name through a Mandarin interpreter.

He did not enter a plea because paperwork outlining the case against him had been served late and his lawyers had not had a chance to discuss it with him.

The court was told that no-one else was charged over the alleged incident.

Judge Lana Wood remanded the defendant back into custody and he was expected to a enter a plea on 16 January.