A Tiers Cross businessman was found guilty of hitting his ex-partner across the face with a cordless telephone by magistrates at Haverfordwest yesterday (Wednesday).

Magistrates heard that 48-year-old Philip Stoddart had struck his ex following a dispute over child maintenance payments last November.

Crown prosecutor Vaughan Pritchard-Jones told the court that the relationship between the pair, who have two young children, had come to an end in September. However they had an arrangement where they would dine with the children one evening a week.

On the evening in question his ex bought up the issue of maintenance payments, hoping to negotiate an increase in payments.

“He lost his temper and called me a ‘money grabbing b**ch’,” she told the court.

She decided to leave and took her toddler to the car. When she went to leave with her young daughter Stoddart barred her way.

“He stood between me and the door. He was still shouting and was aggressive in his tone,” she told the court. “He wanted to discuss it [the maintenance payments] now. He got worked up. I thought we would talk about it another time.

“He stepped to the side and I stepped past him to go. The next thing I knew something came towards me and hit the side of my head.”

The woman initially thought she had been struck by a remote control. It was only later when her injury developed into red ridges she realised it was the cordless phone which was kept in the hall.

Mark Layton, representing Stoddart, maintained that during an argument Stoddart had grabbed the phone and threatened to ring his ex’s mother. The pair had tussled over the phone and when the woman had managed to grab it the momentum had caused it to strike her in the face.

“She hit herself with the phone,” he said. “It has a complete and utter ring of truth and credibility to it.”

After some consideration magistrates found Stoddart guilty.

“In the case of assault by beating we find you as guilty and that the case is proven,” they said. “Our reasons for this are the credibility and clear testimony of the complainant. We are completely satisfied that her version of events is the correct one.”

Stoddart will be sentenced at Haverfordwest magistrates court on February 11, pending the preparation of probation service reports.

He was bailed on the conditions that he did not contact the complainant or enter her present address.