AN estranged husband from Dawlish has admitted assaulting his wife after bundling her into a car in Dartmouth and driving her to Stokenham.

Philip Labrum was banned from contacting his ex-partner Rebecca or from going anywhere near her home in Dawlish at the time of the incident on July 25 last year.

He admitted exercising controlling and coercive behaviour over her over an 18 months period which ended on the day of the assault in Dartmouth.

Labrum, 61, formerly of Dawlish but now living in Kent, admitted controlling and coercive behaviour between January 2022 and July 2023, assault causing actual bodily harm on July 25, and breaching a restraining order on the same day.

The restraining order was made on December 21, 2022, when Labrum was cleared of an earlier assault on his ex-wife after she did not arrive to give evidence. 

Judge David Evans adjourned sentence until next month but told Labrum that he will not receive more than two years in jail, which may be suspended.

Mr Nigel Wraith, prosecuting, said the assault involved Labrum’s ex-wife being manhandled into a car in Dartmouth which was then driving to Stokenham.

Miss Holly Gilbery, defending, said Labrum has mental health issues arising from an accident in which he suffered a head injury some time ago.