A 38-year-old Spalding man has pleaded not guilty to an allegation of causing grievous bodily harm with intent after an incident said to have involved a rounders-style bat.
John Goble, of Beckingham Close, Spalding, appeared before Judge Catarina Sjolin-Knight at Lincoln Crown Court, where he denied the charge. The allegation concerns Daniel Horgan and is said to have taken place on February 16, 2026.
Allegation remains unproven
The charge alleges that Goble caused grievous bodily harm to Horgan. The report says Goble was accused of arming himself with a rounders-style bat, but it does not set out the circumstances leading to the alleged incident or describe the injuries said to have been suffered.
Goble’s not guilty plea means the allegation remains contested. No finding of guilt has been made, and the case will now proceed through further hearings before the matter is tested at trial.
Defence barrister Chris Jeyes asked for the case to be adjourned for trial. The judge then fixed the trial to begin at Lincoln Crown Court during the week beginning March 8, 2027.
Pre-trial hearing scheduled for March
A pre-trial hearing is also due to take place at Lincoln Crown Court on March 1, 2027. The source report originally describes this as March 1 “next year”; because the report is dated October 14, 2026, that date falls in 2027.
The trial is expected to last between three and four days. It will provide the scheduled opportunity for the allegation and the evidence in the case to be considered in court. Until that process has taken place, the charge remains an allegation only.
The case was reported by The Voice — News on October 14, 2026.