OTIS Ferry was sent back to jail today by a judge who told him that his trial on charges of alleged 'witness nobbling', robbery and assault will not be held until next March.

Huntsman and countryside campaigner Ferry, 25, son of rock star Bryan, made an eight minute preliminary appearance at Gloucester crown court on two charges of perverting the course of justice.

Wearing the same blue suit, green jumper and open necked white shirt that he had on when he was arrested last Wednesday, Ferry spoke only to confirm his full name of Charles Frederick Otis Ferry.

The two charges were not put to him at today's hearing and Judge Martin Picton told him he would be back on December 5 to enter his pleas to them.

There was no application for bail and Ferry will have to remain in custody at least until the December hearing date unless his lawyers make a new bid for bail in the meantime.

Ferry, of Keepers Cottage, Cross Hands, Eaton Mascot, nr Shrewsbury, is alleged to have tried to prevent a witness, David Hodgkiss, giving evidence against him in his trial on charges of robbing and assaulting a woman hunt monitor, Helen Ghalmi, on November 21 last year at Lower Swell, nr Stow on the Wold.

The robbery and assault trial had been due to get under way last week at the Cirencester Courthouse in Gloucestershire but after three days of legal arguments it was abandoned and the jury was discharged.

Today Judge Picton said it was likely that the original charges and the two new allegations of perverting the course of justice would be tried together. He said the trial, expected to take 4-5 days, would take place on March 9.

The original charges against Ferry are that while he was hunting with the Heythrop Hunt at Lower Swell he robbed Ms Ghalmi of a video camera - which she was using to film his activities - and a set of keys. He is also said to have assaulted her.

The first new charge against Ferry alleges that on September 8 at Caynham, Ludlow, Shropshire, with intent to pervert the course of public justice, he telephoned his former groomsman David Hodgkiss - a potential witness in criminal proceedings against him - and 'instructed him not to provide the police with certain evidence in relation to an allegation of robbery.'

The second charge alleges that between 7th and 17th September Ferry did a series of acts tending to pervert the course of justice by telephoning Mr Hodgkiss and stating that he 'would discredit him as a disgruntled former employee.'

At today's hearing prosecutor Jo Harris said she understood the charges were to be contested by Ferry.

Remanding Ferry in custody, the judge said he was doing his best not to lose any time in progressing the case.

"I have extended the period for the service of prosecution papers until November 19 because telephone billing evidence needs to be gathered and served and I have adjusted the time for you to serve your defence case statement till December 3. In it you must set out your response to the charges and evidence.

"The plea and case management hearing will still be on December 5, and you will be expected to enter your pleas.  Assuming you maintain your not guilty pleas to the original charges and the new allegations your trial will be on March 9."

Ferry's mother, ex model Lucy Helmore, 46, who was divorced from Bryan Ferry in 2002, was present at today's hearing together with two people believed to be her daughter and another of her sons.