A 'HORRIFIED' dad accused of trying to drown his partner in the bath stopped the attack himself, a jury was told.

Jane Webster appeared over live link at Worcester Crown Court yesterday, telling the jury how Richard Evans attacked her at his home in Ronkswood Hill, Worcester as she screamed for help. The 48-year-old defendant denies attempted murder but admits assault occasioning actual bodily harm and making a threat to kill following the attack on July 4 last year.

The couple, who had been together 12 years, had been drinking at the Gun Tavern in Worcester, the first day the pub reopened after the initial coronavirus lockdown.

Nick Berry, cross-examining Mrs Webster, took her through text messages of a 'loving nature' exchanged between her and Evans before the attack. Her number was saved in the defendant's mobile phone as 'my Jane'. One of the messages he sent read: "Love you. Glad you are safe and hope your night goes well." She replied: "I am safe my lovely."

Mrs Webster described Evans, who had been drinking cans of lager earlier that day, as being 'in a mood' which was 'not unusual'. Mrs Webster told the jury that Evans left for the pub with the dog, Monty, at 4pm and she had followed him there later after having a shower. When Evans came to leave the pub, Mrs Webster said Evans became 'annoyed' because she wanted to remain and finish her drink while talking to her friend, Debbie Heason.

Returning home at around 8.20pm, she said she could hear Evans being sick in the toilet, relaying these details in texts to Mrs Heason. When she went upstairs she said Evans attacked her, grabbing her. "He physically put me in the bath" she said.

Mr Berry put it to her that Evans was on his knees over the toilet bowel when she walked in but Mrs Webster said she believed he had been standing up.

Mr Berry said his client accepted that, by his actions, he caused her pain, discomfort and injury although he did not accept punching her in the face. "He did - my eye was purple and black" she said.

Mr Berry put it to her that, as his client recalled it, the scratches on her face were caused 'when you tried to claw his hand off your face'. But she said: "My hands weren't free in the bath and my arms weren't free."

He also said Evans accepted holding her head under the water on 'at least three occasions' for around 10 seconds on each occasion. "Jane, he did not push your head under the water for one long continuous time period, did he?" said Mr Berry.

"No" she replied.

"There was nothing stopping him from doing so, was there?"

Again Mrs Webster answered 'no'. Mr Berry added that there was also nothing stopping him punching her more than on the one occasion she had already described or using both hands to throttle her but that he 'didn't do that'. "You physically did not cause his attack upon you to stop" said Mr Berry.

"No, he stopped it himself" she said.

"It was always his decision that stopped the attack" said Mr Berry.

She replied: "His decision stopped the attack, yes."

Referring to the aftermath of the attack, Mr Berry said: "You told the police he looked horrified."

"I did" she replied.

The trial continues.