Man threw food at ex-partner before assaulting her

Chesterfield magistrates’ court heard on Wednesday, March 16, how Gary Poole, 51, of South Street, Riddings, Alfreton, had been having an evening meal with his ex-partner when a row broke out after she removed her hearing aid.

Prosecuting solicitor Becky Allsop said: “The couple had been in a relationship for about a year and the complainant describes no previous domestic assaults.

“But on this occasion she came home from her shop in Heanor and the couple had an evening meal and they had drinks and she took her hearing aid off and this caused an argument.”

The court heard how Poole threw a meal across the room and threw food at the complainant.

Miss Haslam said the complainant told Poole he was not normal and he stamped on her right foot in his slippers.

She added: “He threw the meal at her and it went into her hair and he began screaming for her to clean it up.

“He kicked her on her right foot and when she came in the living room she picked up a phone. She tried to get her boots on, but as she got on the sofa he followed her and grabbed her by the neck with both hands and pulled her clothing and she was pulled to the floor.”

When Poole was interviewed by police he accepted what he had done and he said he had been wound up.

Poole pleaded guilty to the assault which happened on February 12.

Defence solicitor Paul McLeod said: “This is a petty situation which got out of hand. They had both been drinking and they got into an incident where there was stamping on a foot and kicking and Mr Poole grabbed her around the neck.”

Magistrates adjourned the case until April 6 to consider a probation report before sentencing.

Poole was released on conditional bail on the grounds he does not contact the complainant.