A CHARD man who allegedly grabbed his partner by the neck and thrust her head backwards hitting a wall on Boxing Day has appeared before a special domestic violence court.

Glynn Stephen Read, 41, of Mintons, appeared in the dock before Somerset Magistrates, sitting at Yeovil.

He pleaded not guilty to an allegation that during the incident on December 26 last year at Chard he assaulted the complainant by beating her.

Christine Hart, prosecuting, told the magistrates that during an argument with his partner Read was said to have pushed the palm of his hand against her nose causing it to bleed.

He then allegedly grabbed her round the neck while she was sat on the sofa and pushed her head backwards, which caused her to hit her head on the wall behind her.

The court was told that Read claimed that he had been acting in self defence at the time of the argument.

Following a review of the case it was adjourned until March 13 when the defendant must return to the court to stand trial.

Until then he was released on bail with conditions not to contact the complainant directly or indirectly and not to go to Combe Street in Chard.