Infidelity claims lead to assault, court hears

But defendant comes off worse in attack, magistrates are told

A LAMBOURN man attacked his girlfriend after she accused him of cheating with a 16-year-old, Newbury magistrates heard last Thursday, September 15.

Terry Wood, of Bockhampton Road, assaulted Leah-Anne Avery at her Lambourn flat on August 30 this year, the court was told.

Jo Belsey, prosecuting, said 22-year-old Mr Wood, who was drunk at the time of the offence, was desperate to talk to his girlfriend about their relationship.

She said the couple had an argument the night before the assault which escalated at The George public house in Lambourn the next evening.

Mrs Belsey said the pair were in The George pub in Lambourn when “the defendant grabbed her upper arm and held her towards him.”

She said Ms Avery went home after a member of the public intervened but Mr Wood had followed her.

Miss Belsey added: “As she went to close the door Mr Avery stopped with his foot and barged in.

“He grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her onto the sofa. Miss Avery said she was going to bed. He pushed her to force her to sit back down. He did this about three or four times.

“She was screaming at him, trying to kick him away. The defendant then swung her round on the sofa and she hit her head on the wall.”

Mr Wood, who has a previous conviction for battery, admitted assaulting Ms Avery by beating her.

Mike Davis, defending, said: “The root of this argument is she was alleging he'd been sleeping with a girl of 16 - which he says is not true. “He accepts he followed her home and barged into the house. He does not accept he grabbed hold of her wrist. He says she's gone to leave the room and he stood in the way. He says she then attacked him, scratching him and kicking him in the leg.”

Mr Davis added: “She actually slammed the front door on his hand on the way out. The defendant himself came off worse, particularly the injury to his hand.”

However, said Mr Davis, “He knows he was in the wrong and apologises for it.”

Mr Wood was bailed until October 6 while pre-sentence reports are prepared.