Elvis Presley denies threatening man with knife at launderette

Irishman also accused of assaulting same man by beating at shop

General view of Preston Crown Court. (Anthony Devlin/Getty Images)

Elvis Presley will face trial after he denied threatening a man with a knife at a launderette.

The Irishman, who shares his name with the “King of Rock”, pleaded not guilty to threatening alleged victim Fayaz Ayub with a folding pocket knife at the shop in Dickenson Road, Blackpool, on 23 January.

A second charge was also put to him of assault by beating the same victim during the incident.

The 59-year-old, who appeared at Preston Crown Court dressed in a brown coat and black shirt, replied: “Guilty. I didn’t beat him, I punched him.”

The defendant appeared hard of hearing and conducted a three-way conversation with the prison officer in the dock relaying the words of the judge and court officials to him during the brief hearing.

Paul Brookwell, prosecuting, said the pleas entered were not acceptable and that there would have to be a trial before a jury on the charge of having the knife to threaten Mr Ayub.

Judge Nicholas Barker set a date of 11 July for a two-day trial at the same court and bailed the defendant on condition that he does not contact his alleged victim.

Mr Presley left the building pursued by press photographers.