Reading Magistrates' Court: Domestic violence order was not breached, say justices

A MAN who denied breaching a Domestic Violence Protection Order has been acquitted.

Reading magistrates made the order last December 7 in respect of 34-year-old Joseph Highwood, of Newtown Road, Newbury.

Mr Highwood did not attend that hearing, although he had been served with notice of the application, the court heard.

Magistrates granted the order after being told by police it was necessary to protect a woman, Hayley Solly, from potential domestic violence.

The 28-day order meant Mr Highwood must not threaten Ms Solly or act in an aggressive or abusive manner towards her.

He was subsequently charged with breaching the order by assaulting Ms Solly on Monday, December 28 last year.

The following day Mr Highwood appeared in the dock at Reading Magistrates' Court where he denied the single charge.

He was found not guilty.