East Rudham man in King’s Lynn court for assaulting ex-partner in front of a child in Fakenham

A 39-year-old who carried out a “fairly grim attack” on his ex-partner in front of a child is at risk of going to prison.

Gary Behagg got into an argument with the woman before pushing her to the floor and punching and kicking her.

He threw the woman’s car keys away so she couldn’t leave the area and then followed her to her neighbour’s property, who was calling the police. Behagg grabbed the neighbour’s iPhone 14 and threw it on the ground - causing it to smash.

Behagg, of The Green in East Rudham, appeared at Lynn Magistrates’ Court on Thursday where he admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and causing criminal damage under the value of £5,000.

Prosecutor Stephen Munton explained that the incident took place at the victim’s address in Fakenham on April 7.

Behagg had visited the property and was speaking to the victim.

An argument broke out between them before Behagg pushed the woman to the floor and proceeded to punch and kick her.

She got up to try and escape, but her car keys were then thrown away and she was pushed to the ground again.

The woman, who was distressed and crying, ran to a neighbour’s house and asked for them to call the police.

Behagg was outside and was seen shouting and swearing. The neighbour told him to calm down and said that he shouldn’t be acting in that way as there was a child present at the time.

Later, he grabbed the neighbour’s phone and threw it on the ground, causing it to smash.

He was told to calm down again and eventually, Behagg left the scene.

He was arrested and interviewed by police, where he said that he had concerns over the welfare of his child that he shares with the victim.

Behagg was represented in court by George Sorrell, who urged for Behagg to be seen by the probation service for a pre-sentence report.

Magistrates agreed, and sent Behagg to have an all-options pre-sentence report, meaning he is at risk of a prison sentence.

Magistrate John Hare said: “In our view, it was a fairly grim attack and there was a child present.”

Behagg will return to court on October 31 and was released on conditional bail.