A MAN has been charged with hitting his ex-partner with a baseball bat and trying to strangle her with a dressing gown cord.

Ifzan Ishitiaq, of Berryford Road, Reading, has been charged with one count of false imprisonment, one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm and one count of stalking.

The 34-year-old is on trial at Reading Crown Court this week after pleading not guilty to the offences.

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On Tuesday (March 28), the court heard that Ishitiaq had allegedly snuck into his ex-partners home before holding a knife against her throat and hitting her with a bat.

It is then alleged he tried to tie her up with a dressing gown cord before strangling her.

Prosecuting, Jack Wright said: “During the night, [the woman] wakes up as she believes she hears the baby fussing.

“She goes downstairs to get a bottle, as she goes downstairs the defendant jumps out of a cupboard with a knife and a baseball bat. He puts his hand over her mouth to stop her screaming and demands to know who she was with.

“[The woman] can feel the blade of the knife against her throat. The defendant strikes her with a baseball bat across the back of her head. He then tried to tie her up with her dressing gown cord.

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“He then puts duct tape on her mouth before ripping it off and asking her to put her own sock in her mouth.

“Mr Ishitiaq throws her to the sofa and tried to tie her feet together. He then took the dressing gown cord and attempted to wrap it round her neck,

“He then puts her in a head lock. [The woman] pretends to pass out and Mr Ishitiaq releases her. [The woman] pretends to come around and acts groggy and was informed by Mr Ishitiaq that he just wanted to scare her.”

The court heard that the woman was then able to call the police.

Other incidents heard in court was Ishitiaq allegedly following the woman in her car, showing up at her home multiple times, as well as hiding in the attic of the home.

He was eventually arrested and interview by police on October 10 last year where he answered ‘no comment’ to all questions.

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Forensic evidence including fingerprint marks have been taken from the loft hatch of the home, the cupboard, the duct tape and more.

The trial continues.