Exmouth woman assaulted: Court told

AN EXMOUTH man was sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid community work after assaulting his former teenage girlfriend. Exeter Magistrates Court heard how Liam Jon Rowland, of Imperial Road, subjected his ex-partner, Ellie Gibbons, 18, to verbal abuse after no

AN EXMOUTH man was sentenced to 150 hours of unpaid community work after assaulting his former teenage girlfriend.

Exeter Magistrates Court heard how Liam Jon Rowland, of Imperial Road, subjected his ex-partner, Ellie Gibbons, 18, to verbal abuse after noticing her in Londis, in The Strand, on Tuesday, September 29.

Twenty-three-year-old Rowland then followed Ms Gibbons out of the store and pushed her out onto the road.

Prosecutor Neil Lawson said the woman had walked to Londis with her friend. Inside the store she noticed Rowland standing in a queue.

Mr Lawson said whilst in the store he began to make inappropriate comments towards Ms Gibbons. She ignored him and carried on talking to her friend.

The teenager left the shop and walked along The Strand and was suddenly pushed.

The court heard how Ms Gibbons claimed her ex-partner had grabbed her on the arm, pushed her out onto the road, spat at her and said 'the next time I see you, I will smash your face in.'

Frightened, she went to the police station. Rowland, who police found had been drinking heavily, was later charged and pleaded guilty to the offence.

Defence solicitor Jeremy Tricks said Rowland admitted pushing her out onto the road 'out of frustration.'

The court heard the reason for the couple's break up was Rowland, who attends the Exeter Drugs Project, had been verbally abusive to her.

In reaching her sentence, chairman of the bench, Mrs T Murray, said: "It was a nasty assault on a vulnerable person.

"I order you to do community work as part of a community order - 150 hours unpaid work.