An Isle of Wight man, described as a "nasty and violent abuser," has pleaded guilty to six charges and had been remanded in custody today (Tuesday, January 23).

Robert Church, 35, formally of Ranelagh Road, Lake, and now of no fixed address, was charged with four counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and two counts of burglary.

At around 4am, on July 7, 2023, a woman woke to the sound of loud banging on her front door, in Ryde. 

The IW Crown Court heard the door was kicked off its hinges and Church entered the address.

He assaulted the woman and threw items from the kitchen all over the floor, court was told.

He later returned and assaulted a teenage girl.

In a separate incident, on October 1, at the same address, he behaved aggressively towards the pair, including punching the victims and leaving the woman with a cut above her eyebrow, and they barricaded themselves in a bedroom.

Church was arrested and was charged with six offences.

He initially denied the charges and a trial was due to get underway at the Isle of Wight Crown Court yesterday (Monday, January 22).

Following his admission of the charges against him, Church will appear for sentencing on March 8.

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From Hampshire and IW Constabulary, DC Ashlea Butt said: “Church is a nasty and violent abuser of women and girls who has now been brought to justice for this terrible pattern of offending.

“The bravery of the victims has resulted in a dangerous man being removed from the streets and remanded into custody.

“We take allegations very seriously and will do all we can to target perpetrators, and offer support to those affected.”