Haverhill resident William Hartley pleads not guilty to assault and strangulation charges at Ipswich Crown Court

A 27-year-old has pleaded not guilty to assaulting a woman in October.

William Hartley, of Flatford Road, Haverhill, appeared via video link at Ipswich Crown Court this morning.

He pleaded not guilty to charges of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, intentional strangulation and property damage.

All these were in relation to an incident on October 20.

There were scenes of confusion in the courtroom, as officers at the prison where the defendant is being held initially brought in the wrong person.

Judge Nicola Talbot-Hadley said she would refrain from making a decision on whether to bail Hartley until the prosecution and defence in the case had disclosed further information.