A TEENAGER who refused to give evidence after her boyfriend allegedly assaulted her was ordered to sit in court for a day as punishment.

Emily Bateman was told by the judge that, although she was the alleged victim of punches and deliberate cigarette burning, she had wasted the court time by not turning up.

Bateman, aged 19, admitted being in contempt of court and was ordered to sit in the public gallery at Worcester Magistrates' Court all day because it was "not just a matter between you and your ex-boyfriend".

Brian O'Connell, defending, said Bateman had started a relationship with her boyfriend when she was "an innocent 17-year-old" and he 35.

Her boyfriend was due to face trial for three counts of common assault but the case collapsed because Bateman, of The Cross, Wyre Piddle, near Pershore, was not there in November to give evidence.

Mr O'Connell added: "She ended the relationship with him, moved back in with her parents and didn't realise the seriousness of not coming to court."

District Judge Elwick told her: "You can suffer the inconvenience of sitting here all day. I appreciate that you may well have been the victim in an abusive relationship and I realise that you wanted to put the matter behind you and bury your head in the sand.

"But this was not a private matter between you and your ex-boyfriend, it's essential for the administration of justice to obey court orders. Sit here until I rise this afternoon as a reminder of what court orders are for."

Bateman was later reprimanded by the judge for chatting with friends instead of silently watching proceedings.