A woman’s been handed a restraining order after an alleged drunken assault.
30-year-old Jade Ward appeared at Swindon Magistrates’ Court this morning (Friday) to stand trial after denying a charge of assault by beating at an earlier hearing.
But the trial didn’t go ahead, as prosecutor Kirsty Gordon decided to drop the case after an agreement was reached with the defendant’s solicitor Mark Glendenning.
The court heard that the alleged assault involved a single elbow to the back of another woman, who was living in the same supported housing complex as Ward in Corsham in August 2022.
It’s said to have taken place as they drank alcohol together and with others – and caused no injury.
On hearing that the defendant, who now lives in Little England, Chippenham, and the complainant in the case suffer from mental health difficulties, a non-conviction restraining order was deemed the most appropriate way forward.
Mark Glendenning added that both parties have since moved out of the same property and live in different towns – and Ward does not know the alleged victim’s new address.
District Judge Joanna Dickens imposed a two-year restraining order prohibiting the defendant from contacting the woman directly or indirectly.
Ward confirmed that she understands she must “go the other way” if she sees the complainant in the street and block any incoming contact from her on any platform, including social media.
