TWO teenagers charged with attacking a young man with learning difficulties have made their first appearances in court.

Jack Swift, 18, and Bradley Knapper, 19, are accused of inflicting grievous bodily harm on Carl Robinson.

The 19-year-old was allegedly set upon in Beaufort Street, Peasley Cross as he was walking home from his mum’s 40th birthday party in the early hours of Sunday, April 6.

It is alleged a group battered Carl around the head with a house ‘For Sale’ sign.

The former pupil at Lansbury Bridge in Parr was left with fractures to his jaw, nose and eye socket, and a blood clot to his ear.

In the hours afterwards police arrested youths aged 17, 18, 18, and 19 on suspicion of assault but the four were bailed.

The Star revealed in September how, after a five-month police investigation, Knapper, of Gloucester Street, St Helens, and Swift of Monmouth Grove, Parr, had been charged.

Appearing at St Helens Magistrates Court’, Swift and Knapper were granted bail to appear at Liverpool Crown Court on January 22, when they will enter a plea.