A MAN has admitted wounding a surgeon with a knife outside the Altrincham Islamic Centre but denied attempted murder.

Ian Rooke, 29, pleaded guilty to wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm to consultant Dr Nasser Kurdy and to having an offensive weapon, a knife, in public. Mr Kurdy, 58, was attacked outside the Grove Lane centre, Hale, at around 6pm on September 17.

Rooke entered his guilty pleas as he appeared at Minshull Street Crown Court, Manchester by videolink from HMP Manchester.

He pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempting to murder Mr Kurdy, a father-of-three, who works at Wythenshawe Hospital.

Rooke will go before a jury to face the attempted murder charge in a trial scheduled to begin on March 12.

Judge John Potter remanded Rooke into custody until the trial begins.