A MAN assaulted his estranged wife outside Ulverston Victoria High School following an argument, a court heard.

Andrew Brew, of King Street, Ulverston, bent the victim’s finger back as he attempted to grab her mobile phone out of her hand while she was on the phone waiting in her car, South Cumbria Magistrates’ Court heard.

Prosecutor Lee Dacre said the 47-year-old had pulled up alongside the victim's car and barged his car door into hers beforehand at around 3.20 pm on May 14 this year.

The court was told a witness to the assault described Brew as being aggressive towards her by calling her ‘all manner of names’ before trying to ‘rag’ her phone out of her hand.

The witness said the woman was ‘absolutely terrified’ and commented that he was not sure what the defendant would have done had he not intervened, the court was told.

Mr Dacre said Brew then left the scene and let himself into the complainant’s property where he had once lived. The court was told the home was still jointly in his name.

Brew pleaded guilty at the first opportunity to a single count of assault by beating when he appeared at court on September 23.

In her victim impact statement, the complainant said she felt ‘scared and shocked’ about the defendant’s actions as he had been violent to her and her family previously.

She added they had been separated for seven years and that she felt ‘embarrassed’ by the situation.

Mr Dacre said Brew had three convictions for battery, two of which were against his former partner.

Defending Brew, Trystan Roberts conceded his client had committed an ‘unpleasant offence’.

He said: “My client disagrees with elements of the case but he wants the matter over and done with today.

“He says she was shouting towards him in a derogatory manner and he tried to get the phone off her to see who she was talking to.

"The pain he caused to her finger was not intentional.  It was reckless on his behalf. He does not accept causing any damage to her car door.

“It is a relatively short-lived incident but albeit an unpleasant offence. I am told despite going through divorce proceedings, the two parties are on relatively good terms.”

Magistrates imposed a 12-month community order with one requirement of completing 60 hours of unpaid work as punishment.

Brew was also ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 in court costs.