A MAN accused of grabbing two women by the throat in two separate attacks has had his case sent to a judge for sentence.

Martin Butterworth, prosecuting, told York Magistrates Court that Mark Winteringham, 37, grabbed his ex-partner Kerry Cox and another woman, Katie Tuff, by the throat in separate attacks.

He said that on November 22, Ms Tuff had difficulty breathing as Winteringham pushed her on to a sofa and when Ms Cox intervened, he hit her in the face and stamped on her right hand.

Charged with attacking both women, the court heard how Winteringham was released on court bail and on January 24, he grabbed Ms Cox’s neck and hit her in the face. For Winteringham, Colin Byrne said: “His priority is his own self- destruction.

He smashed a vodka bottle in his own face. He was going to stab himself with a knife.”

After reading a pre-sentence report, magistrates yesterday committed Winteringham for sentence to the crown court, instead of sentencing him themselves, and remanded him in custody.

“You can’t do that,” Winteringham cried, as he was taken off to jail for the four weeks until his crown court date. Mr Byrne objected to the committal on the grounds that the actions of the magistrates who heard the case at an earlier hearing meant that Winteringham had to be dealt with by magistrates and not a judge, who can give longer sentences. But the magistrates’ legal advisor said that they had acted within the law. Winteringham, of Woodville House, Lowther Terrace, York, pleaded guilty to causing actual bodily harm to and assaulting Ms Cox and assaulting Ms Tuff.

All the attacks occurred in Ms Cox’s home.

Mr Butterworth said that Winteringham and Ms Cox had been in a relationship for about a year, but had split up before the attacks.

Mr Byrne said Winteringham had taken a wide range of drugs starting when he was at school and also drank.

Both Ms Cox and Winteringham had been drinking before the second attack, which occurred after Ms Cox had invited Winteringham to come to her home.