A 28-year-old man denied two attempted murder charges and other serious offences when he appeared at Maidstone Crown Court.

The nine charges Gerry Connors faces relate to a shooting incident at a gypsy camp in Upchurch, near Gillingham, on May 2.

He pleaded not guilty to attempting to murder Paul Saunders and causing him grievous bodily harm with intent and attempting to murder John Saunders and attempting to cause him grievous bodily harm with intent.

He also denied three charges of possessing a firearm, an automatic handgun, with intent to cause fear of violence, causing Junior Palmer grievous bodily harm with intent and robhing him of £140.

Connors, of no fixed address, was arrested in Dublin on May 18 and extradited back to the UK. He appeared in court via TV link to high security Belmarsh Prison in London.

Jonathan Higgs, prosecuting, said: “This case concerns a series of shootings on May 2 this year. Some of those were in London. One was at a caravan site in Upchurch."

Judge Andrew Patience, QC, said that because the earliest date for the trial was currently not until April 19 next year enquiries would be made to see if it could be held earlier at Canterbury Crown Court. Connors was remanded in custody.