Woman assaulted while shopping

AN IPSWICH high street shopper was assaulted by her ex-boyfriend as she looked at lingerie, a court heard.

Charlotte Marshall, had been shopping in the underwear department in Debenhams when Michael Saliu “suddenly appeared in front of her”, South East Suffolk Magistrates Court heard.

Miss Marshall told the court Saliu, 37, of Perkins Way, Ipswich was just six inches from her face and she felt intimidated by him.

She said: “He was very aggressive, he said 'liar' I'm not sure if he said anything else. I was very distressed and that is when he kicked me.”

Neil Macaulay, prosecuting, said Saliu kicked Miss Marshall in the right anklebone and then walked off. “It hurt and I was scared,” added Miss Marshall.

She said she had been Saliu's girlfriend for two years but she had broken off their relationship in 2003 when she was 18. She said although Saliu walked away after the assault on June 26 last year, she saw him circle back towards her.

She added: “I rushed to the nearest till where there was a woman working and I said 'help me'

“I was hysterical, I was crying and frightened so she took me off the shop floor.”

Mr Macaulay said Saliu, who has a previous criminal record, was stopped by security guards outside the store on this particular busy Saturday afternoon.

He told the court that Saliu “punched” one of the guards in the back and then carried on towards The Walk where he was arrested by Pc Banks.

Pc Banks said Saliu was “aggressive and swearing” and had kicked him in the leg and spat in his face.

Saliu denies two charges of common assault an offence of assaulting a police officer and a public order offence for his violent demeanour.

Mr Macauley said Saliu denied all the offences when he was interviewed by the police.

The trial is expected to end on Wednesday.