A man has denied wounding eight-year-old Sarah Payne's killer, Roy Whiting, in prison.

At Leeds Crown Court, Rickie Tregaskis, 34, pleaded not guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm.

He is accused of attacking Whiting on August 4 2002 in Wakefield Prison.

Whiting was sentenced to life in prison in 2001 for Sarah's murder.

The schoolgirl disappeared while playing near her grandparents' home in Kingston Gorse, in July 2001. Her body was found in nearby Pulborough 17 days later.

Shaven-headed Tregaskis, handcuffed and flanked by security guards, spoke only to confirm his name and to enter his plea during the brief hearing today.

Judge Robert Taylor fixed a trial date for March 29 2004 and remanded Tregaskis in custody.