A man is set to be sentenced after admitting to assaulting a woman during an incident on Soho Road in Handsworth, Birmingham. Wesley Usherwood, 30, appeared at Birmingham Magistrates' Court on Tuesday, 8 September, where he entered a guilty plea to common assault.
The case arose from an incident on 28 July, where Usherwood was seen grabbing a woman by the nape of her neck. Initial reports from witnesses claimed the woman had been punched and dragged by her hair, leading to Usherwood’s arrest on suspicion of kidnap.
However, the defence presented CCTV footage from a nearby bank that captures the entire incident. According to Usherwood’s solicitor, the footage shows no evidence of punching or dragging. Instead, it depicts Usherwood grabbing the woman by the neck, after which she briefly sits on the floor before entering a vehicle with him willingly.
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Prosecutor Ms Begum told the court that a witness had observed Usherwood punching the victim multiple times and dragging her by her hair while she was on the floor, resulting in bruises on the side of her face. She confirmed that the incident took place within the context of domestic abuse, and that officers located Usherwood at Resorts World, Birmingham.
Usherwood’s solicitor commended the police for obtaining the CCTV footage and suggested that a review of the material by the prosecution might clarify the discrepancies in the accounts.
Due to the conflicting versions of events, Deputy District Judge Hinder ordered a Newton hearing, scheduled for April, to determine which account the court will accept. The judge noted that the outcome of this hearing could have a significant impact on the severity of Usherwood’s sentence.