A BUSKER headbutted his girlfriend in the middle of Weymouth town centre.

David Cochrane, 47, appeared before Weymouth Magistrates Court and pleaded guilty to common assault.

The charge related to an incident in St Mary’s Street in Weymouth on July 2 this year.

Elizabeth Valera, prosecuting, told the court that at around five past one in the morning Cochrane was seen by eyewitnesses to grab his girlfriend by the throat and headbutt her in the face.

Police arrived at the scene and the victim was seen to have reddening and scratch marks on her neck.

When asked for a statement she said that she was angry about what he had done to her but wasn’t going to provide a statement.

Cochrane, of High East Street Dorchester, was then arrested and interviewed by police.

In his interview he said that he wasn’t proud of what he had done.

The court heard how he also said he was in a 10 year relationship with the lady and it had never happened before.

Patricia Sheehan, mitigating, said that he knew it is not the way to behave towards somebody that you love and he’s very very sorry about what happened.

She added that he didn’t believe what he had done and that it was a “one off”.

She said that he supported himself by working as a street musician and a busker.

A pre-sentence report prepared on Cochrane stated that he had clearly shown a great deal of remorse.

He was handed a community order lasting for 12 months as a result of the offence.