A CHARD man who used his former partner as a “personal punch-bag” after blaming the state of her house for their child contracting impetigo has appeared before a special domestic violence court.

Robert James Catleugh rowed with the victim in her car and then threatened to punch her to the head and drag her out of the vehicle.

When she pulled over he dragged her out of the car leaving her on the ground and she ran off.

When he caught up with her again he threw the car keys at her and walked away, Somerset Magistrates were told.

Catleugh, 31, of Ernest Ashman Place, admitted assaulting the complainant by beating her during the incident at Ilminster on August 10.

Prosecutor Joanne Pearce said the couple had previously been in an eight-year relationship which had ended, and that day the victim was taking him home to Chard.

“Catleugh became wound up and started making comments about the state of her home and saying that was why their child had impetigo,” she said.

“He said he felt like punching her in the head and said if she pulled over he would drag her out of the car.

“When she did pull over he pushed her and dragged her out of the vehicle onto the floor and she had bruising to her body as a result.

“At some point the defendant drove the car and she ran off, but when he caught up with her he threw the car keys at her and walked away.”

When Catleugh was arrested he made admissions during interview and said he was sorry for his actions saying he needed a restraining order.

The court was read a statement from the victim who said that she was “petrified” of the defendant.

She wrote: “He scares me to the point that I think he will kill me and he seems to think I am his personal punch-bag.

“I am considering moving house but know he will find out where I will be living. I just want it to end and for him to leave me alone.

“Although he has not broken my bones or skin I am bruised where he pulled me out of the car and have not slept because of the pain. I just want him out of my life.”

Defending, Jeffrey Bannister said Cateleugh accepted reacting in the way he did but said it was a two-way problem between them both.

“On this occasion she was giving my client a lift and their child had just been diagnosed with impetigo and they were discussing it,” he said.

“Both accused the other of their house not being clean but he then threw her out onto the A358 but then thought better of it and stopped and threw her the keys.

“He feels both parties are reacting to each other in a particular way and it is building up and not good for their child.”

The case was adjourned until October 3 for a pre-sentence report to be prepared by the Probation Service.

He was released on bail with conditions not to contact the victim directly or indirectly except through a third party for child contact and not to enter Monkton Heathfield.