A MAN who reported an assault in the street to police was trying to "cover his tracks," a court heard.

On Monday afternoon Mold Magistrates Court held the trial of 33-year-old Ryan Hughes, of Giggetty Lane in Wombourne.

Hughes did not attend the trial - which concluded with him being found guilty of assaulting complainant Abby Hickinbottom in Gronant on July 2 last year.

Catherine Elvin, prosecuting, told the court the defendant and complainant had been speaking for around nine years on social media, but decided to meet in person.

He came to her property to stay with her, but about a week and a half later she asked him to leave when she suspected he'd been on the phone with another woman.

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The court heard he then became abusive and attacked her.

In a 999 call made by Ms Hickinbottom to the police, she told the operator the defendant had punched her, called her "all the names under the sun," thrown her around the room, dragged her down the stairs and hit her "full force" in the face, before grabbing her throat.

In the call, which was played to the court, she said she believed the defendant was waiting in the area to be picked up by someone in order to return to the West Midlands.

The court then heard a 999 call placed by the defendant shortly after the assault.

Claiming to be someone called "James" he told the operator he was stood watching a woman assaulting what he believed to be her "other half" in the street.

She was ripping his clothes and punching him, Hughes claimed, adding: "I think he's just trying to get away to be honest."

When the police arrived in Gronant they found Hughes at a bus stand and after it was confirmed he was in fact the one wanted for a domestic assault, he was arrested.

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When his phone was taken off him, it was discovered that he had been the one to place the call about the couple "fighting" in the street.

Ms Elvin said the defendant had pretended to be a witness to an assault that didn't happen in order to 'cover his tracks'.

After retiring for a short time, the Magistrates returned a verdict of guilty.

Hughes will appear at the court via video link for sentencing on July 27.

 

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