AN IRBY man who assaulted a woman during sex has been given a suspended jail sentence.

Stuart Bernard placed his hands over her mouth during a struggle and then held her arms down, Liverpool Crown Court heard last week.

The 33-year-old woman, who fled from the house in an extremely upset state, suffered bruising to her arms and wrists, said Mr Trevor Parry Jones, prosecuting.

She ran to the home of a neighbour, who spent 15 minutes trying to calm her down.

Mr Parry Jones said that Bernard admitted assaulting the woman causing actual bodily harm during sexual intercourse.

Bernard, aged 35, of Parkway Close, Irby, had faced a charge of raping the woman. A jury failed to agree a verdict in October and in January the prosecution decided not to proceed with a retrial and the charge was ordered to lie on the file.

The woman did not wish a retrial on the rape charge if he admitted assaulting her, said Mr Parry Jones.

Judge Ann Downey sentenced Bernard to four months' imprisonment suspended for two years and ordered him to pay £300 compensation.

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