A suspected paedophile who is accused of biting off the tip of a man’s finger during an attempted sting in Stevenage has pleaded not guilty to all counts.

Thomas Jean-Louis De Castle-Lynne, of no fixed address, denied five alleged offences at St Albans Crown Court today before Judge Philip John Grey.

He has been charged with attempting to meet a child under 16 following grooming, as well as common assault, assault by beating, a racially-aggravated public order offence, and causing GBH with intent.

The 45-year-old was arrested by police in the overpass between the railway station and Stevenage Leisure Park on April 8, after being confronted by a ‘paedophile hunter’ group called Catching Online Predators.

The judge explained that due to a criminal barrister strike over government legal aid reforms, the defendant had no legal representation at today’s hearing.

Mr De Castle-Lynne’s trial will be heard sometime in the two weeks following July 30.