A MAN who pulled his pregnant partner out of her car during a “shocking” incident in Chard has appeared before a domestic violence court.

Robert Courtney Hunt became angry after the victim booked the vehicle in at a garage to be repaired and demanded she handed over the keys.

When she refused he lost his temper and grabbed her by the arm pulling her out of the car and onto the ground, Somerset Magistrates were told.

Hunt, 32, of Hodges Barton, Somerton, pleaded guilty to assaulting Lisa Tilley by beating her at Chard on April 30 when he appeared before a special domestic violence court at Yeovil.

Defending solicitor Greg Peters said the victim had never made a complaint to the police and did not support a prosecution as she wanted their relationship to continue.

Kevin Marland, prosecuting, said the couple had been together for eight years and Miss Tilley was pregnant at the time.

They were in Furzehill, Chard, and an argument developed between them.

“The victim had taken her car to a garage because it had broken down and Hunt took exception to this and they started to argue,” he said.

“The defendant became aggressive towards her and demanded the keys to the car she was driving but she refused and tried to drive away.

“Then Hunt opened the rear door behind his partner and pulled her out of the vehicle and pushed her to the floor.”

In a basis of plea to the court the defendant accepted grabbing the victim, pulling her out of the car and causing bruising to her arm.

Mr Marland added: “He was arrested by police and interviewed and said he did not recall pulling her out of the car, however he has accepted the offence in court today.

“The couple are now having another baby and a restraining order is not being sought in the circumstances.”

Mr Peters said the incident was reported to police by a member of the public who witnessed it.

“He has expressed genuine and heartfelt remorse and is ashamed of his actions, not least because other family members were in the vehicle at the time,” he said.

“He is not proud of what he did and this incident has had a profound effect on him.”

The magistrates told Hunt it had been a “shocking incident” and was a “terrible thing to have done” and said they required a pre-sentence report to be prepared by the probation service before they could pass sentence.

They adjourned the case until July 16 and released the defendant on bail with conditions not to contact the victim