GAZETTE & HERALD: A 32-YEAR-OLD Chippenham man told a court he had broken bones in his girlfriend's hand during a row because she was always winding him up.

Adrian Mark Richards, of Sutherland Crescent, appeared before Chippenham magistrates on Monday when he pleaded guilty to a charge of causing grievous bodily harm to Elizabeth Hooper between June 1 and September 30, 2002, and to a second charge of common assault against Ms Hooper on January 18 this year.

Prosecuting, Rhys Davies told the court the earlier assault came to light when Ms Hooper reported the incident this year.

Ms Hooper, who has been in a relationship with Richards for eight years, told police the couple had a volatile relationship and in 2002 he had broken her hand in a number of places, when he grabbed it and squeezed it.

After the assault, she went to hospital where medical staff confirmed bones were broken, and a cast was needed to fix them.

The more recent assault, Mr Davies said, began with an argument between the couple, with Richards saying he did not like anything his partner said or did.

Richards kept coming up to Ms Hooper with a clenched fist. He grabbed her by the hair and shook her, and he shouted and screamed at Ms Hooper, close to her face. Then he punched her on the top of her head with his fist.

Richards made a full admission of the event to the police and said Ms Hooper was always winding him up.

He also admitted the previous assault when Ms Hooper suffered three

broken fingers.

Defending, Sambreen Arif said the first charge related to an incident a long time ago, that no weapons were used and the attack was not prolonged.

She said the couple had a tempestuous relationship and Ms Hooper had also physically abused Richards, but this was not supported by the police.

Magistrates called for an all-options pre-sentence report. Richards was released on unconditional bail.