A MAN accused of ‘stamping’ on a woman’s head during an assault near an Oxford park has been cleared of violence but convicted of breaching a restraining order.
Robert Burden, of Hazel Crescent, Kidlington, was on trial at Oxford Crown Court this week charged with harassment by breach of a restraining order and assault occasioning actual bodily harm.
Prosecutors had claimed the 39-year-old repeatedly struck his ex-partner’s head with his foot during an attack at a road bridge over the A40.
READ AGAIN: Our original report from the opening of the case.
It was alleged that the incident of violence took place near to the city’s Cutteslowe Park at about 6pm on the night of April 22.
It was also alleged that he had acted in breach of a restraining order forbidding any contact with his ex-partner.
After eight hours and 26 minutes of deliberations yesterday jurors cleared him of any wrong-doing in relation to the alleged assault.
He was convicted, however, of breaching the restraining order.
After the verdicts had been given he was jailed for eight months and ordered to pay a victim surcharge.
READ ALSO: Burden takes to the witness box to profess his innocence.
Throughout the trial - which began on Monday - jurors heard from the alleged victim as well as from Burden.
Prosecutors said that the pair had been in a ‘turbulent’ relationship between 2010 and 2016 before the alleged attack.
From the witness box the woman recalled what she claimed happened telling jurors she was struck by Burden.
Burden also took to the stand where he denied any wrong-doing.
Speaking of his encounter with the woman by a pond at the park he said she was ‘aggressive’ towards him and said ‘she smelt as though she had been drinking.’
Speaking of the alleged violence on the bridge he denied ever stamping on her head.
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