A BOW Farm man appeared in court yesterday charged with carrying out a crossbow murder bid.

During a hearing held at the High Court in Glasgow, Stephen Bamber, of Greenock’s Paton Street, denied attempting to murder a woman by shooting her on the hand with the loaded weapon.

Bamber, who is 57 years old, is accused of presenting the loaded crossbow at the woman, struggling with her and discharging the crossbow bolt, causing it to strike her hand and attempting to murder her.

The offence is alleged to have taken place at a property in Paton Street on 21 June last year.

Bamber, who is represented by defence counsel Thomas Ross, also denies placing the woman in a state of fear and alarm for her safety by repeatedly sending her text messages.

He also denies making abusive and threatening telephone phone calls to her between 1 December and 31 December last year. Bamber will go on trial over the charges later in the year.

The case is due to be heard at the High Court in Dumbarton.

It has been scheduled to start in July.