A JAIL inmate charged with assaulting a Greenock prison officer is due to stand trial next month.

Kris Auld, who is locked up at HMP Greenock, is accused of attacking a male member of staff and punching his head to his injury.

The 29-year-old accused is said to have committed the alleged offence on April 23 last year.

Defence solicitor, Amy Spencer, told Greenock Sheriff Court that her client had not been brought from custody for the hearing and the matter had been due to resolve.

Sheriff Clair McLachlan said she could not proceed in Auld's absence, so the case was continued to a trial diet on April 10.