A MOTHER told a court yesterday how she was taken to a deserted beach and beaten by her former lover, who was demanding that she drop court proceedings against him.

Leslie Cowe, 28, of Whitton Drive, Spennymoor, County Durham, drove Gail Prest to Hendon beach, in Sunderland, after dragging her into his van by her hair, Newcastle Crown Court heard.

Miss Prest was told she would be drowned and her body concealed, it was alleged.

The court heard that Mr Cowe was facing charges of assault causing actual bodily harm and common assault for previous attacks on Miss Prest, at her home in Sunderland.

Miss Prest wept as she told the court: "I questioned where I was being taken to and he kept telling me to shut my mouth. I tried to open the van door because I knew I was being taken to get a good hiding - or I wasn't coming back.

"He was punching me in the head, shoulders and back and hurling abuse at me."

"He parked the van and told me to get out and said he needed to tell me the facts of life. He said he was going to drown me, but make it so that no one found me.

"All I wanted was to get back to my children."

Miss Prest said she agreed to drop the previous charges against him so he would take her home to her children.

Mr Cowe denies kidnapping, assault and intimidating a witness. He also faces the earlier charges of actual bodily harm and assault.

The trial continues.