A YOUNG man has admitted attacking his girlfriend in Worcester city centre.

Shah Haque, aged 22, of Chedworth Drive, Worcester, admitted common assault and harassment at Worcester Magistrates Court last Tuesday, after initially denying the charges.

The court heard that, on Friday August 17, in Worcester city centre, an intoxicated Haque was waiting for a taxi to take him home when a white Mercedes pulled up on the side of the road and he mistook the car for a cab.

Haque approached the Mercedes, which was being driven by a Mr Gillian, who was not a taxi driver and just there to pick up his teenage son.

When Haque realised the car wasn’t a taxi, he began shouting abuse and hitting the car.

Mr Gillian said he then saw Haque assault his own girlfriend, Paige Marston, grabbing her around the throat and threatening her.

A friend of the couple, Duncan Dew, told the court that they all met at around 7.30pm and began drinking, and said that Haque had been acting in an abusive manner towards Miss Marston all evening.

He said he watched Haque punch Miss Marston with force twice, leaving her a cut near her the left eye – however Haque claimed she hit herself.

Miss Marston initially spoke to the police but then retracted her statement, the court heard, as she stated that she did not want to attend court to revisit the trauma.

In that statement, she said: “I developed anxiety and depression during the relationship.

"I have felt suicidal and have been given medication from the doctor.

"Haque made me feel I needed to be well-kept all the time, he was very jealous and would accuse me of cheating every time I left the house.”

Unemployed Haque was sentenced to a 12-month community order of unpaid work with two days a week of rehabilitation for his drug and alcohol issues.

The court heard that he has six previous convictions for drug use, drunk and disorderly behaviour and speeding.