A man accused of trying to stab a retired butcher to death near Borth has been transferred to a psychiatric hospital.

David Kenneth Fleet, 20, was due to enter pleas to charges on Friday of attempted murder and possessing an offensive weapon.

But the hearing at Swansea Crown Court was adjourned after the judge was told Fleet needed to be examined by psychiatrists first.

Fleet, of High Street, Borth, north of Aberystwyth, is accused of stabbing 71-year-old Lewis Stone on 28 February.

Mr Stone, from Burton on Trent and who has a holiday home in the area, was airlifted to hospital and only recently emerged from a coma.

The alleged attack took place close to the Borth Wildlife Kingdom as Mr Stone walked his dog.

Fleet’s barrister, Ian Ibrahim, told the court that Fleet had been transferred from Long Lartin maximum security prison to the Caswell Clinic near Bridgend.

Friday’s plea and trial preparation hearing was adjourned to 14 June.

A provisional trial date was set at 27 August.

Fleet was remanded into the custody of the Caswell Clinic until the next hearing.