A Home Office boss from Windsor accused of obtaining a poison to cause a woman’s miscarriage will face trial next year.

Darren Burke, 42, who is deputy director for the emergency services mobile communications programme at the Government department, appeared at Isleworth Crown Court on Tuesday by video-link.

He has previously pleaded not guilty to charges of obtaining the medication mifepristone and attempting to administer it to a woman to procure a miscarriage on December 4, 2020.

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Mifepristone is a medication used to induce an abortion by blocking the hormone progesterone.

Judge Hannah Duncan said Burke faces a three-day trial on April 25, 2022 for what she described as an “extremely serious case”.

A Home Office spokesman previously confirmed that Burke, who is on unconditional bail, had been suspended since his arrest but declined to comment further while the case is ongoing.

The court heard he is privately funding his legal representation by barrister David Spens.