Drunk from Bolton battered girl during row
2:10pm Tuesday 16th March 2010 in News
A DRUNKEN man battered his girlfriend and smashed her car windscreen with a bottle during a row, a court heard.
Lawrence Booth and Claire Latham had been drinking at a pub on November 30 last year, Bolton Magistrates Court was told.
They went back to Booth’s home in Darwen Road, Bromley Cross, and the couple continued drinking.
The court heard they had an argument about Miss Latham attending a Christmas party.
Harold Smith, prosecuting, told the court: “The defendant approached her while she was sitting on the couch and he slapped her across the back of the head.
“He grabbed her by her hair and dragged her to the floor and kicked her about the legs.”
The court heard she fled the property, taking her mobile phone, got into her Fiat Punto and locked herself inside.
She tried to drive away but Booth smashed the windscreen with a vodka bottle.
Rachael Walsh, defending, said he did not accept kicking Miss Latham.
She added: “He says Claire Latham came at him whilst he was kneeling in front of the fire and he pushed her away.
“He accepts that she fell and sustained some injuries, a sore head and marks to her right side.
“He followed her outside because he was concerned about the amount of alcohol she had consumed. He stood in the path of the car as she started to move slowly. In an attempt to stop her from going he smashed the windscreen with a bottle.”
The court heard the police were called and Miss Latham made a statement, but she retracted it on December 14.
The couple, who have been together for two years, are now back together and Miss Latham is pregnant.
Booth, aged 41, pleaded guilty to common assault and criminal damage yesterday. The case has been adjourned until April 12 for sentencing.
amanda.smith@theboltonnews.co.uk
