Reading Magistrates' Court: Newbury woman convicted in absence of domestic-related violence

A WOMAN who denied assault in a domestic context has been found guilty in her absence.

Emma Louise West was also convicted of other, related offences.

The 31-year-old, of Fountain Gardens, Ashridge Court, Newbury, had admitted one charge of causing £80 worth of criminal damage to a phone belonging to Thames Valley Police on November 21 last year.

She further admitted assaulting Charlotte Nichols by beating her in Mortimer on December 15 last year and stealing an iPhone worth £487.92 from her on the same occasion.

But at a previous hearing, at Reading Magistrates' Court in June, Ms West denied assaulting Ms Nichols on another occasion - specifically, on November 18 last year.

She also denied using violence to get into Ms Nichols' home on the same occasion.

However she did not turn up for the trial; both charges were found proved in her absence on Tuesday, October 26 and a warrant was issued for her arrest.

At the latest hearing, on Friday, December 3, Ms West was brought before Reading magistrates, where she admitted failing to answer her bail on the last occasion.

The court ordered a probation report to be prepared and adjourned all matters for a sentencing hearing.

Ms West was meanwhile released on conditional bail.