Reading Magistrates' Court: Newbury man locked up for strangulation offence

A MAN has been remanded in custody after throttling one woman and assaulting another.

In the dock at Reading Magistrates' Court on Monday, September 19, was Dane Pretlove.

The 21-year-old, of Strawberry Hill, Newbury, admitted intentionally strangling Chloe Esprey.

He also admitted assaulting Diana Lubescue by beating her.

Both offences were committed in Newbury on Sunday, September 18.

Paolo Damiani, defending Mr Pretlove, made an application for bail on his client's behalf.

The application was opposed by the prosecution.

After hearing submissions from both parties, district judge Kathryn Verghis denied Mr Pretlove bail and he was remanded in custody.

She meanwhile ordered pre-sentence reports to be prepared on an 'all options' basis and reserved the right to send Mr Pretlove to the Crown Court in Reading to be sentenced by a judge if, after reading the reports, she deemed her own powers of punishment to be insufficient.