Man assaults partner in row over drugs relapse

Ben Walker, 33, of Prickett Road, pleaded guilty to an offence of assault by beating on his partner, who is the mother of his two children aged nine months and two years.

She was described in court as “a person who has supported him for years.”

But now Walker has been banned from contacting her, either directly or indirectly, pending the preparation of a pre-sentence report. Defending. Mike Farr said Walker’s plea was on the basis that he “caught her cheek when he pushed her away,” during an argument on Boxing Day last year.

He said: “There certainly was a relapse. He is now cooperating with a methadone programme.”

District Judge Frederick Rutherford said he was minded to send Walker on the Building Better Relationships programme as part of his sentence, which will be meted out when he returns to the court on February 4.

He told Walker that he appeared to have “lost control.”

He said: “Your partner found out about your misuse of heroin and you reacted badly.”

Walker replied: “It’s just a personal issue between me and my partner. We had a fight basically.”

Walker was released on conditional bail not to contact his partner. He must also cooperate with the probation service in the preparation of the pre-sentence report.

The Building Better Relationships programme is designed to reduce offending in men who have been violent towards their partners.