Ashley Holberry from Newbury faces strangulation charge

A MAN has been sent to the crown court charged with coercive control and strangulation.

Ashley Holberry appeared in the dock at Reading Magistrates’ Court on Thursday, April 3.

The 36-year-old, of Market Street, Newbury, is charged with the intentional, non fatal strangulation of Jasmine Wong in Newbury on July 29, 2023.

He is also accused of engaging in coercive or controlling behaviour towards Ms Wong, who was his partner at the time, also in Newbury, between July 14, 2022 and August 31 last year.

He is said to have done so by isolating her, by numerous incidents of violence, by verbal abuse intended to amend her behaviour, by damaging her furniture and by humiliating her.

Magistrates told Mr Holberry they were declining further jurisdiction and that the case would be sent to be heard by a judge and, in the event of a trial, by a jury, sitting at Reading Crown Court on a date to be fixed.

Mr Holberry, who was legally represented at the hearing, was meanwhile released on bail with conditions.