Simon Smith denies 'splitting partner's head open' with wine bottle at Chinnor home

Simon Smith, of Banbury Road, Kidlington, denies one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm alleged to have taken place at an address in Chinnor on April 21 last year.

Oxford Crown Court heard yesterday how his alleged victim had to have a portion of her head 'glued' back together after the night attack.

As his trial got under way yesterday jurors heard how the 54-year old had been in an 'on and off' relationship with his alleged victim for more than a decade.

On the night of the violence, prosecutors claim, Smith was drunk, having been with the woman to a pub and a BBQ and drinking with friends.

When they returned to the woman's house, jurors were told, an argument about his behaviour broke out and as he went to leave he struck the woman in the head with a bottle of wine.

Taking to the witness box the alleged victim said while at the pub and the BBQ there had been 'no animosity' and they had had a good time.

She said that both of them had been drinking and claimed that on an ascending scale of one to 10 for drunkenness she was 'about five or six' while Smith was 'eight or nine'.

Recalling the alleged assault she said: "He swung around and hit me around the head with the bottle.

"My head was split open, it had to be glued."

She said that Smith then 'panicked' before throwing the bottle on the floor and leaving the house.

Smith denies the charge and the trial, expected to last two days, continues.