A TRIAL of issue is to be staged over allegations that a man was threatening to throw his partner from coastal cliffs.

It follows an incident observed by a passing dog walker in a street in Easington Colliery, near to the County Durham coast, on Friday April 24.

Defendant John Ian Bridgewater was said to be dragging a woman, who shouted for help to the dog walker, claiming that her partner was threatening to throw her from cliffs.

The dog walker rang police, but when he tried to intervene, to ask what was going on, he was sworn at by Bridgewater, who also allegedly kicked his pet pug, Bill.

Appearing at a plea hearing at Durham Crown Court today (Tuesday July 21), via video link from Holme House Prison, in Stockton, Bridgewater admitted assaulting the woman, causing actual bodily harm, with a punch to the face that caused bruising, and using threatening, abusive or insulting words and behaviour, to the dog walker.

But the court was told his plea was on the basis that he punched the woman and was abusive to the dog walker, but not to any other aspect of the allegations.

Shaun Dryden, prosecuting, said the basis was “not acceptable” to the Crown.

Judge Simon Hickey agreed to adjourn the case for a trial of issue, or Newton hearing, prior to the sentencing of Bridgewater.

He told the defendant: “You pleaded ‘guilty’ on a basis the prosecution doesn’t accept, therefore, a judge will hear evidence on those points, so there is a basis on which you can be sentenced.”

Judge Hickey remanded Bridgewater, of Boston Street, Easington Colliery, to remain in custody until the trial of issue, at the court, on August 4.