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A petrol station worker who was critically injured when he tried to stop a driver leaving without paying for their fuel "remains in a life-threatening state" one month on, a court heard.

Srisankar Subramanian was injured as a black Audi S3 was driven out of the Esso garage on Castleford Road, Normanton, at 02:22 BST on 20 October.

Taghan Bal, 18, pleaded not guilty to unlawfully and maliciously wounding Mr Subramanian with intent to cause him grievous bodily harm when he appeared at Leeds Crown Court on Thursday.

A trial date has been set for 6 May 2025.

Prosecutor Katherine Ryan said Mr Subramanian was still on life support and "unable to breathe for himself".

"The prognosis isn't good and there have not yet been attempts to remove the life support."

Bal, an accounting apprentice of Wyatts Green Road, Wyatts Green, Essex, also pleaded not guilty to dangerous driving, perverting the course of justice, making off without payment and displaying a false number plate.

His co-defendant, 31-year-old Aderoju Adeniran, pleaded guilty to making off without payment and displaying a false number plate, but denied perverting the course of justice.

The court heard Adeniran, of Central Street, Islington, London had been recalled to prison following his arrest, having been convicted of manslaughter in 2012.

He is due to be sentenced on 20 December.