Man faces court accused of poison attempt at Stowe School

A man will stand trial today accused of trying to poison pupils at a top public school.

Maxwell Cook, a kitchen porter at Stowe School since January 2007, was arrested in March last year after carrot and coriander soup due to be served to students was laced with a cleaning product.

Police said the sanitising destainer was added to soup prepared for service at the £27,000-a-year school on March 11, 2010.

At the time the school said the substance was noticed during routine tasting and none of the pupils or staff were hurt.

Cook, 57, from Syresham, Brackley, Northamptonshire, who has since been suspended, denies attempting to administer poison with intent to injure, aggrieve or annoy.

A trial is due to start today at Aylesbury Crown Court.

Past pupils at Stowe School include business tycoon Sir Richard Branson, journalist Sir Peregrine Worsthorne and jazz great George Melly.