A FUNERAL wake in Barrow ended with a man subjecting the woman he had shared a taxi ride home with to a violent assault, a court heard.

One witness to the late-night attack by Robert Riddick, 31, saw him forcefully 'flinging' the woman into the road while another saw him kick her as she lay face down in the street, Carlisle Crown Court heard.

The defendant pleaded guilty to an actual bodily harm assault and the theft of the woman's mobile phone. Tim Evans, prosecuting, outlined the facts.

He said the defendant and the victim – sadly now deceased – both met for the first time when they attended a wake in Barnfield Lane, Barrow, on August 21. Just after 1.30am, Riddick and the woman left together in a taxi.

After stopping briefly at a cashpoint, they were dropped off at Dumfries Street, where they were heard arguing.

The first witness was a local resident, a man who reported being woken by the sound of arguing in the street. He described looking out of his window and saw a woman lying in the street 'with a male standing over her.'

“The male was raving and shouting abuse at her,” said Mr Evans.

The defendant was carrying a bottle and a carrier bag.

“He was seen to move away but he then ran back to where the female was lying down,” said Mr Evans. The witness then saw the defendant kick the woman.

The witness shouted, telling the defendant to 'pack it in'. Mr Evans said: “The defendant shouted something back along the lines of “Come down and we’ll have it out if you want.” But then he ran away.

The resident later saw the victim return from hospital with her arm in plaster.

Another neighbour also saw the violence. She too was woken by the argument, which appeared to have been over the woman being unable to find her keys and the defendant wanting to use her toilet.

“Both were shouting and swearing,” said Mr Evans.

The neighbour saw the woman sitting on a wall when Riddick punched her in the face before 'flinging her into the street with force.' 

Riddick left but was identified when he later returned to the scene. Andrew Evans, defending, said the offences happened three years ago and Riddick had not reoffended since.

Recorder Tony Hawks noted the defendant’s previous convictions, which include violence against women.

“I can’t think of anything more disgraceful,” said the judge after summarising the violence involved in the 2020 offence, culminating in Riddick kicking the victim as she lay in the street.

But the defendant had stayed out of trouble. The Recorder imposed eight months jail, which, given the time the defendant has already spent in custody, means he will be eligible for release in a few weeks.

The defendant – now living at Fereneze Crescent, Hamilton – hoped to rebuild his life in Scotland, the court heard, and the recorder said that he hopes he is successful in achieving that goal.