Two men have appeared before York Magistrates' Court on charges connected to the death of a seven-month-old baby in the city.

Craig Steven Williams, 36, is accused of the baby’s manslaughter more than a year ago.

Along with Joseph Bruce, 30, he is charged with fraud by lying that a child’s bed complied with British Standards between November 14 and November 22 in 2016.

Neither man entered pleas at the ten-minute hearing this morning.

Because manslaughter can only be tried by a judge and jury, district judge Adrian Lower allocated all charges to the crown court and told them their next hearing was likely to be on February 16.

Manslaughter cases committed from York are usually heard at Leeds Crown Court.

Williams, of Park View Road, Kimberworth, near Rotherham, who was represented by Richard Minion, and Joseph Bruce, of Kimberworth Park Road, Kimberworth, who was represented by Craig Robertson, were both released on unconditional bail.

The fraud charge alleges that both men falsely represented that a child’s bed supplied to a woman complied with British Standards.

The district judge ordered that the identity of the baby should not be made public.

These charges are in relation to an investigation involving Playtime Beds Ltd based in Sheffield.