Accused councillor tells court his partner 'snapped'

The case is taking place at Chester Crown Court

A councillor accused of strangling his partner has told a court it was she who attacked him, saying she "snapped and had gone for me".

Ashley Farrall, who represents Macclesfield Central on Cheshire East Council, is on trial at Chester Crown Court on charges of strangulation and trying to pervert the course of justice, both of which he denies.

His partner alleges the councillor pushed her against a banister, grabbing her neck with one hand.

On Friday, Mr Farrall told the court: "She lunged at me... threw a glass at me... and punched me in the face".

Mr Farrall told the court the difficult birth of their son had taken a toll on his partner's mental wellbeing.

The 43-year-old councillor said both he and his partner been assessed by a perinatal mental health team following the "horrific" birth.

He told the court his partner was diagnosed with PTSD and depression, and was said by the hospital team to be at "high risk" of developing post-natal psychosis.

Farrall, who broke down several times while giving evidence, said his partner had begun to self-medicate with alcohol because it was "the only way she could sleep".

Giving her evidence earlier this week, his partner said they were watching the TV show Married at First Sight on 14 November last year, after drinking beer and wine.

She alleged that, following a comment about sex, an argument had ensued between the pair. She said the argument had continued upstairs and culminated in him pushing her against the banister and grabbing her neck with one hand.

'Gas-lighting'

Taking to the stand on Friday, Farrall told the court his partner had "snapped".

"She started saying the names of my ex-partners. She snapped and had gone for me," he told the court.

"She lunged at me in the face, bearing her teeth.

"I pushed her in her upper chest area and she fell back against the banister.

"She threw a glass at me, which hit me in the side of the head, and punched me in the face."

He said his partner then said 'you're strangling me', even though he claimed he was not in physical contact with her at the time. He told the court he wondered if she meant the term metaphorically.

He said he had told her he was going to call the police, but his partner had called them first and he was arrested.

His bail conditions had subsequently prevented him from contacting her, but the court heard meetings between the pair had taken place.

He denied putting pressure on her to change her statement, and said she had wanted him to plead guilty at his initial court hearing, becoming "angry" when he refused.

He said: "She would say I didn't care about her and didn't love her. It felt like gas-lighting, like blackmail.

"But I've always maintained I'm not guilty."

Farrall denies the charges. The trial continues.