A 38-year-old man appeared in court today and denied being part of a plot to sell two stolen copies of the latest book in the Harry Potter saga to a newspaper reporter.

Christopher Brown pleaded not guilty at Kettering magistrates court to charges of helping in the theft of two copies of the book and of brandishing an extendable cosh in front of a reporter who was allegedly in negotiations to take the books.

Wearing a blue shirt and navy tie, Mr Brown, of Tresham Street, Kettering, spoke only to confirm his name and address and enter the not guilty pleas to the two charges - one of "assisting in the detention or removal" of the stolen books and one of possession of an offensive weapon.

Mr Brown and co-accused Aaron Lambert are alleged to have offered two stolen copies of the JK Rowling book to John Askill, a reporter with the Sun, earlier this month.

Magistrate Sheila Fairweather ruled that the court did not have sufficient powers to handle the case and ordered Mr Brown be tried at Northampton crown court.

He was released on unconditional bail until August 8.

Mr Lambert, 19, also from Tresham Street, is due before Northampton crown court on October 10 accused of possessing an imitation firearm, a replica handgun, with intent to cause Mr Askill to fear unlawful violence.

He is also charged with stealing two copies of the book, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, from a distribution centre in nearby Corby.

The two men were charged on June 3 after an armed police operation to recover the books from Tresham Street.

JK Rowling has since won a high court injunction to stop details of her eagerly-awaited latest book emerging.

The novel, due to be published on July 16, has already caused controversy after heavy betting on the identity of a major character supposedly killed off in it.

Bookmakers suspended betting last month amid fears that the manuscript had been leaked after thousands of pounds were laid on the Hogwarts headteacher, Professor Dumbledore.

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