A KNIFEMAN allegedly kidnapped his former partner, drove off at high speed and later threw her out into the road, a jury was told.

Burnley Crown Court heard how spurned Peter Ashdown's panic-stricken victim Catherine Burrows, had tried to escape from the vehicle but had been grabbed by the hair and had her head repeatedly slammed on the dashboard.

She was found injured by a passing motorist and was later taken to hospital, but Ashdown told police he had had nothing to do with it.

Ashdown, of Rutland Street, Nelson, denies kidnap and assault causing actual bodily harm, on January 24.

Nick Courtenay, prosecuting, said the defendant and Miss Burrows had had a 'volatile' nine month relationship from March until December last year.

Early last December the alleged victim left Ashdown's home and returned to her own property. As far as she was concerned the relationship was over and she wanted nothing more to do with him.

In the week before the alleged offences, Miss Burrows had received text messages from the defendant which appeared to be an attempt at reconciliation. The messages began as pleasant but became increasingly threatening.

On January 24, Miss Burrows went out to make a phone call in the early afternoon and was walking along Woodland Road, Nelson, when the defendant allegedly pulled up next to her in a car.

Ashdown claimed at the time of the alleged offences he had been at home alone. He said he had not been the driver of the car, had not kidnapped Miss Burrows and had not attacked her.

(Proceeding)