Joshua Ward, 27, of Barnard Avenue, Ludworth, appeared at Newton Aycliffe Magistrates’ Court on August 6. He indicated a guilty plea to assaulting the woman on August 4, causing her actual bodily harm, in breach of the Offences Against the Person Act 1861. The court heard that Ward failed to comply with probation on previous occasions and posed a “serious risk of harm to individual”. A restraining order was imposed, banning Ward from contacting the woman directly or indirectly until February 5, 2028. Ward’s guilty plea was taken into account when sentencing by the court.