MAN SENTENCED FOR ASSAULT AHEAD OF EVENING BAPTISM
A MAN who jumped into a moving car and was aggressive towards his girlfriend ahead of their joint baptism has been given a conditional discharge.Ryan Preece, of Brook House in Ross-on-Wye, pleaded guilty to common assault against his girlfriend Sherrie Jones.
Hereford Magistrates' Court heard the 23-year-old was being prosecuted because of a witness' account, and not because Ms Jones had pressed charges.
In a statement read to court, the witness, Sarah Fletcher, who is a trainee pastor at Hope City Church in Hereford, said Preece and Ms Jones had attended the church on September 15 last year for a baptising session as both were due to be baptised later that evening.
She said she noticed the defendant was acting strangely and he got up and walked out.
Ms Fletcher and Ms Jones then got into a car with another pastor.
Preece jumped into the moving vehicle on top of Ms Jones who was sat in the front passenger seat.
The pastor started driving to the police station when Preece got out of the car at the junction with The Kerry.
Chris Read, defending, said the charge is based on his aggressive behaviour rather than any physical contact.
He said Preece had become angry as he felt the pastors were not giving him a chance to talk to Ms Jones about a family issue.
He said Preece has various mental health issues, including a diagnosis of schizophrenia.
Preece was given a conditional discharge for 12 months and ordered to pay £65 court costs and a £15 victim surcharge.
