Calcot man cleared of assaulting woman

A MAN has been acquited of assaulting a woman after she left court during her evidence.

In the dock at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, June 1, was Matthew Axford.

The 31-year-old, of Fairlop Close, Calcot, was accused of assaulting Maria Drake, thereby causing her actual bodily harm, in Reading on April 19 last year.

He was further charged with assaulting Ms Drake by beating her in Reading between June 4 and June 7 last year.

Finally,Mr Axford was accused of causing £40 worth of criminal damage to a jacket belonging to Natalie Kuczmarski in Reading on April 19 last year.

He denied all three charges and a trial was arranged.

However, the prosecution decided to offer no further evidence when Ms Drake absented herself from court before her examination in chief was concluded.

They also offered no further evidence on the criminal damage charge.

The prosecution applied for a restraining order in respect of Ms Drake, despite Mr Axford’s acquittal, and this was refused by the court.

Mr Axford was legally represented at the trial by Gianpaolo Damiani.