[A] CARLISLE man accused of alleged assaults on his former partner has told a jury they “never happened”.
Nathan Bell is on trial at the city’s crown court having pleaded not guilty to six charges. He denies three alleged assaults on Jodie Liddell, one of which is said to have caused actual bodily harm.
Bell, 27, further denies three alleged breaches of a restraining order, put in place by magistrates, which banned him from contacting Miss Liddell in any way.
This afternoon (WED), he gave evidence to jurors. Asked whether he had assaulted Miss Liddell during a car journey last May, Bell, of Lindisfarne Street, Carlisle, replied: “Not at all.”
When asked whether he punched her in the face on August 12, as alleged, he responded: “No. That never happened.”
And in response to allegations that he “punched” Miss Liddell, “strangled” her and put his “thumbs in her eyes”, on September 1, Bell told jurors: “No. Not at all.”
Bell also denied alleged restraining order breaches.
The trial continues.