A man punched his girlfriend and held a knife to her throat after a Christmas Day row, magistrates heard.

Barry Payne, 30, left Carla Gibson, his partner of three years, frightened and traumatised when he attacked her in a fit of jealousy, a court heard.

Colchester magistrates were told yesterday that Payne reacted angrily when he left his girlfriend alone with a male friend at her home in Hawthorn Avenue, Colchester.

The man had come to the house during the evening and Payne went upstairs to bed soon after at 8.30pm. However, he came rushing downstairs three hours later and attacked her with a knife.

Payne, of Alexandra Road, Colchester, admitted a charge of assault and of causing damage worth £100 to Mrs Gibson's door.

Paul Roach, prosecuting, explained Payne had been drinking since the moment he woke up on Christmas morning.

Kim Kennedy, mitigating, admitted Payne could not remember much of the night but claimed that Mrs Gibson was as drunk as her boyfriend when she was attacked.

The magistrates adjourned the case for a report to be carried out. Payne will return for sentencing on February 25, and was released on conditional bail until that date.

More in today's Evening Gazette

Published Tuesday, January 25, 2005

Brought to you by the Evening Gazette