Llangollen,North Wales - Father assaulted girlfriend in front of his child while driving in Llangollen

Published date: 08 July 2016 | 

Published by: Staff reporter
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A FATHER assaulted his girlfriend in front of his child while he was driving, a court heard.

Christopher Bray, 24, pleaded guilty to assaulting his partner of seven years, Charlotte Guest.

Sheyanne Lee, prosecuting, told Wrexham Magistrates Court that on June 5 the couple were driving near the Horseshoe Pass in Llangollen when they got into a “nasty argument”.

Bray was accused of elbowing his girlfriend in the chin and raising his fist to her in front of their two-year-old son during the argument.

A witness driving directly behind them said she could hear the couple having a “heated argument” and called the police after claiming she saw Bray turn to headbutt his girlfriend after she climbed into the back of the car with their son.

She also claimed she saw Bray raising his fist to his girlfriend and could hear the couple shouting at each other.

The witness said the car was “swerving all over the road” and was concerned for the safety of the child in the back of the car.

Melissa Griffiths, defending, told the court Bray, a farmer from Bridgenorth, “made a full and frank admission” and accepted he has anger management problems.

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Miss Griffiths said Bray admitted elbowing his girlfriend in the chin and raising his fist, but had no intention of assaulting her.

She said the argument had stemmed from an act of infidelity earlier in the relationship.

Miss Griffiths said Ms Guest had been out the night before and had returned home during the early hours of the morning, but she claimed she was home by 10pm.

She said Bray, who “finds it difficult to leave it in the past”, had questioned his partner in the car on where she had been, which caused the argument.

Bray admitted his actions were “unjustifiable” and said it was “totally unacceptable” to assault his partner and he would seek help for his anger problem.

The court heard Bray is a “man with no convictions and is a good character” and is aware his behaviour had an effect on both the victim and his son.

Chairman of the magistrates bench Alan Moore issued Bray with a 12-month community order to work with the probation service.

He was ordered to pay £85 costs, an £85 victim surcharge and was ordered to carry out 80 hours of unpaid work.

see-http://www.leaderlive.co.uk/news/164127/father-assaulted-girlfriend-in-front-of-his-child-while-driving-in-llangollen.aspx