A PUBLIC-spirited onlooker had to intervene when a man was seen dragging a woman along a Radcliffe street, a court heard.

Shane Hutchinson (34), who had been living in Meadowcroft, Radcliffe, admitted assaulting Angela Holden, his ex-partner, when he appeared before Bury magistrates' court.

The bench ordered Hutchinson to carry out 180 hours' community service and ordered him to pay personal compensation of £150.

Mr Mark Broomhead, prosecuting, said Miss Holden was Hutchinson's ex-girlfriend, but although they had split up in December last year, she allowed him to stay with her until he found new accommodation.

One day she left the house to visit a friend and when she returned the defendant was said to be in a drunken state, accusing her of seeing someone else and shouting abuse.

The court heard he then grabbed her by the coat and banged her head against a wall. She fled to a friend's house but he came looking for her. She tried to walk off but he followed. He swung a punch at her face causing her to fall and then grabbed her by the coat, dragging her along and spitting at her. She got up and he continued to push her causing her to fall over.

At this point, said Mr Broomhead, a member of the public, intervened and pulled him away. When he was seen by the police he initially denied the assault claiming he had been assaulted instead.

The court heard that Hutchinson who had gone to live in Wardle, Rochdale, had managed to restore his friendship with his former girlfriend and she had visited him while he was in custody. They were not living together but it appeared she had accepted his apologies.

The bench said it had noted Hutchinson's remorse.