A CHARD man who assaulted his partner in broad daylight during an argument on the street has been handed a community order by magistrates.

Polish-born Miroslav Tecza grabbed the victim round the throat and pinned her against a wall during the incident which was witnessed by two neighbours.

The defendant originally denied the offence but changed his plea to guilty on the day of trial.

Edward Counsell, prosecuting, told Somerset Magistrates that the couple had started arguing in the street when Tecza grabbed the victim round the throat and pinned her against a wall.

She began to cry out for help so he then dragged her into his house and the offence was witnessed by two neighbours.

“No compensation is being sought by the victim because she has not made a complaint to the police about the matter,” he said.

He also said that the defendant’s partner was also not asking for a restraining order to be made, although the court heard that Tecza did have a previous conviction for battery involving the same woman.

Defending solicitor Neil Priest said that both parties intended to remain together despite the incident and said he disagreed with a probation report that said Tecza had an entrenched pattern of offending.

“This was an unfortunate incident involving the same partner and he regrets it very much,” he said.

“The victim never supported the prosecution against my client but he decided to do the right thing by her in court and changed his plea to guilty He said Tecza would benefit very much from the Building Better Relationships programme offered by the probation service, adding that the couple had been together 16 years.

He was sentenced to the community order with requirements for supervision, to carry out 180 hours’ unpaid work and attend the BBR course.