Woman admits assaulting boyfriend

A FORMER Honiton woman, who assaulted her boyfriend and scratched his car, has been given a conditional discharge by magistrates in Exeter.

A FORMER Honiton woman, who assaulted her boyfriend and scratched his car, has been given a conditional discharge by magistrates in Exeter.

Nicola Louise Dartnall-Smith, 24, who gave her address as Halsteads Road, Torquay, pleaded guilty to common assault and criminal damage on March 29 in Sidwell Street, Exeter.

The court heard that witnesses saw Dartnall-Smith, formerly of Meadows Crescent, Honiton, damage the silver Nissan and hit and scratch her partner, James French.

At first, Mr French did not react and then he pushed Dartnall-Smith to the ground

Dartnall-Smith said, while in police custody, she rarely drank but, on this occasion, she had consumed four pints of lager. She could not remember what led to the incident.

A tearful Dartnall-Smith, who represented herself in court, said: "I don't really know what happened. We are still together and have bought a house in Torquay. I obviously can't change what happened, but I'm very sorry about it."

Chairman of the bench Mrs Sheila Margrett said: "Drunkenness is no excuse for this sort of behaviour. You have said it was a one off and we hope it was and that we won't see you back in court."

Dartnell-Smith was given a six-month conditional discharge for each offence and ordered to pay �50 compensation to Mr French and �100 costs.