Rodwell Warte, 47, of 3 C Meadow Brook, appeared before Acting Chief Magistrate Melissa Robertson charged with unlawfully assaulting Dianne London, his reputed wife, so as to cause her actual bodily harm.
He was also read a second charge of using threatening language towards the virtual complainant, and was subsequently remanded to prison.
It is alleged that on the March 6 at Jerries on Waterloo Street, the defendant used bodily force to get the VC to go home with him.
To both charges, he pleaded not guilty. In his defensc, Warte claimed that London was “high” (intoxicated) after having a few drinks and he was merely trying to take her home.
London, however, told the court about suffering years of domestic abuse by the defendant. She said Warte had a habit of abusing her “all over the place”, especially when he had imbibed alcohol.
A visibly emotional London told the court that she was not going to take any more of his abuse and just wanted the defendant to leave her alone.
Warte was refused bail and the parties were ordered to consult with the Probation Officer.
After hearing the magistrate’s ruling Warte refused to leave the court, insisting that the magistrate or someone else listen to his “side of the story”, to no avail.
The matter is to be called again on April 15 in Court 10.