A MAN who was seen pinning his ex-girlfriend to the floor by sitting on her has been found guilty of assault.

Thomas Robert Sharp appeared at South Cumbria Magistrates' Court in Barrow on Monday accused of assault and theft.

The 25-year-old denied both offences and during Monday's trial the court heard from the victim, Roxanne Fawcett, and two independent witnesses.

Magistrates heard Sharp and Miss Fawcett had been in a relationship for around a year but the pair had split up and Sharp was issued a Domestic Violence Protection Order in April. The order banned him from contacting her and going near her home in Saves Lane, Askam.

However, on April 28, Miss Fawcett contacted Sharp on the phone and the couple ended up spending the night together. They returned to her home a day later but an argument started.

Miss Fawcett told the court: "At first it seemed ok. I went out with my dad for a couple of hours, I thought I could leave him at home and trust him. I got back about 6pm, he was outside, he didn't seem sober and was stumbling about."

The couple argued and Miss Fawcett alleged Sharp assaulted her and stole her iPhone 8+. He was later found by police at the playground in Saves Lane and arrested.

Cross-examining Miss Fawcett defence solicitor Andy Gallagher pointed out she had changed her version of events since her first complaint to police. He said it was Sharp who was left with a black eye and scratches but when asked how he had got them Miss Fawcett said: "I've no idea."

Neighbour Diane Fawcus was a crucial witness in the trial.

"At the bottom of my drive I heard a girl screaming saying 'get off me, get off me,'" Mrs Fawcus said.

"I saw her on the ground, he was sitting on top of her."

Miss Fawcett told the court Sharp had stolen her phone because she told him she had pictures of him to prove he had breached the domestic violence order but he denied stealing the phone.

Magistrates found Sharp guilty of assault, based on the testimony of Mrs Fawcus, but cleared him of the theft charge.

Sharp, of no fixed abode, was jailed for 14 days for the assault and a 100-day suspended sentence was activated. He was also given a two-year restraining order preventing him from contacting Miss Fawcett and ordered to pay £600 costs and a £115 victim surcharge.