TESTS are to be carried out to assess if two men accused of conspiring to rob and murder singer/actress Joss Stone are fit to stand trial.

Junior Bradshaw, 31, and Kevin Liverpool, 34, are due to face a trial in August over crimes alleged to have been committed between January and June last year.

But Exeter Crown Court has heard that both are suffering from significant mental health issues.

Bradshaw has yet to enter a plea to charges of conspiracy to murder, conspiracy to commit GBH and conspiracy to commit robbery.

The court heard that he is being held at a secure mental health unit pending further tests.

And now a psychiatric test has been ordered for Liverpool, who has pleaded not guilty to the same charges, to determine his fitness to face a trial.

Prosecutor Simon Morgan said: "It may be that a judge is asked to assess their fitness to plead."

Bradshaw, who the court heard suffers from schizophrenia, and Liverpool, both of St Stephen's Close, Manchester, were held by police close to the Ashill home of Miss Stone last year.

The pair were arrested on the St Andrew's Estate in Cullompton after being seen acting suspiciously in the area around the village of Langford in a Fiat Punto.

Grant Vanstone, defending Liverpool, said the defence team were seeking a second psychiatric report on his mental state before the next hearing.

Judge Cottle adjourned proceedings until April 16.