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Reading Crown Court: 'Controlling' Thatcham man bit and strangled partner




A MAN has admitted biting and strangling his tormented partner.

Nathan Ochiltree had been due to go on trial at Reading Crown Court on Tuesday, September 27, for assault causing actual bodily harm and coercive, controlling behaviour towards Rose Davis.

But after almost a day of legal argument the 24-year-old, of Urquhart Road, Thatcham, changed his plea to guilty on the coercive control charge.

Reading Crown Court. (55914704)
Reading Crown Court. (55914704)

Specifically, Ochiltree, who has been in custody awaiting trial, admitted engaging in coercive or controlling behaviour towards Ms Davis between June 1 last year and Sunday, May 15.

The former pupil of Kennet School in Thatcham is said to have assaulted her by biting her, by beating her, by strangulation and by spitting on her.

There had also been threats to end Ms Davis' life, the court heard.

By late afternoon, and just before the jury was due to be sworn in, Samantha Giffin, defending, asked the court to put the coercive control charge to her client again.

Ochiltree, wearing a white shirt and grey trousers in the dock, formally changed his plea to guilty.

He continued to deny assault causing actual bodily harm and James Lachkovic, prosecuting, said: "Your Honour, those pleas are acceptable to the prosecution."

Judge Hassan Khan explained: "The likelihood is that the Crown won't proceed with Count Two [the assault charge] given your plea."

He ordered pre-sentence reports on Ochiltree and reserved sentencing to himself.

That hearing is currently scheduled to take place on Friday, November 11 and is expected to take 45 minutes.

In the meantime Ochiltree was remanded back into custody.



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