Ex-soldier denies assaulting fiancée

Shane Hammett, 35, of no fixed abode, is on trial at Shrewsbury Crown Court for both charges and a further charge of assault by beating.

He is alleged to have committed the offences in Shrewsbury.

On one occasion the former soldier is alleged to have burned a cigarette on his partner's head, an incident which he denies having taken place.

Other alleged incidents in their relationship included slapping her, taking a knife to her throat and grabbing her around the neck, however Hammett denied all the charges while giving evidence at the trial on Friday.

Hammett was quizzed by prosecutor Marc Davies, who alleged that Hammett had controlled his partner, telling her to delete people out of her life on social media and taking benefit money.

However, Hammett, who served for the army in two tours of Northern Ireland strongly refuted the claims.

He insisted that until around "40 police officers" turned up at his home last year, he had no idea about the allegations that had been made by his partner.

He said: "I was confused, I had no suspicion that anything was going to happen.

"My life was on track, then out of nowhere this."

Mr Davies also asked if Hammett ever said he was going to kill the woman, which he denied, and he also denied an allegation that he killed his partner's cat.

The prosecutor referred to previous incidents of assaulting woman, and he asked if Hammett had a problem with women. The 35-year-old denied that.

Hammett told the jury that the woman had told lies about him and he alleged that she had perverted the course of justice.

When questioned by his defence solicitor Kevin Jones, he said he had offered to leave them home a number of times, but the woman said she didn't want him to leave.

He said that at one point she was on her knees and grabbed his leg, and begged him not to leave.

Hammett denies all charges and the trial continues.