A GREENOCK man has been charged with assaulting and attempting to rob his 61-year-old mother in her Larkfield home.

Gary Kelly, 28 — who has been locked up after appearing in court — is said to have seized his mum by her neck and demanded she give him the PIN numbers for her bank cards.

Prosecutors say that Kelly had moments earlier helped himself to two debit cards from the woman’s home on Caithness Road.

It is further claimed that he took the allegedly stolen cards to Lalley’s convenience store at nearby Fife Road and attempted to withdraw cash from an ATM machine there.

Kelly — who is said to have committed the alleged offences on December 27 — appeared from custody at Greenock Sheriff Court to deny the allegations through lawyer Aidan Gallagher.

Prosecutor Tom Bowman, opposing bail, told the court: “There is the nature of the charges and it is considered that the accused’s presents a danger to his mother.

“He also has a lengthy schedule of convictions for violence and disorder.”

Solicitor Mr Gallagher said that Kelly would accept any conditions of bail not to enter the street and to stay away from his mother.

He said: “His record largely speaks for itself, however, these new charges are allegations which he denies, and the benefit of the doubt lies with the accused.”

Sheriff David Hall said: “I consider that the Crown’s grounds of opposition are well founded.

“Bail is refused and you are remanded in custody.”

Kelly is set to return to court next week as the case continues. He is due to appear in front of a sheriff on Tuesday January 16 and a trial has been scheduled for January 31.