THE MAN charged with assaulting Steven Dyson before he died after a New Year's Eve Party last year, has pleaded not guilty at court.

Daniel Conway, aged 22, from Fern Street, in Ramsbottom, appeared in Manchester Magistrates Court today, charged with Actual Bodily Harm in relation to the night of the incident.

After pleading not guilty to the offence, Mr Conway was released on unconditional bail, with a trial date set at the court for October.

In June, an inquest found that Steven, aged 22, had drowned after he was last seen at 9am on New Year’s Day leaving a party in St Andrew’s Close, in Ramsbottom.

He was reported missing by his mother later that day, sparking a police search of Nuttall Park and the surrounding area.

In the days that followed, members of the public formed organised search parties in a bid to assist police, before a body was eventually found in the River Irwell in nearby Summerseat on Saturday, January 6.

The inquest, held at Rochdale Coroner's Court, heard that Steven died as a result of 'drowning', but that there was not enough evidence to determine how he ended up in the water.