A CABBIE is to face trial over allegations he assaulted a vulnerable widow he moved in with.

Ted Lane, 70, of Painswick, appeared before Stroud magistrates where he is alleged to have hurt Mary Bircher during a dispute at her home.

The court heard evidence Lane had given Mrs Bircher a lift home just after her husband died, and moved in with her.

But when she wanted him out, he “became nasty”, the court was told.

Lane pleaded not guilty to assaulting Mrs Bircher, 64, in Cranham, on January 31 but admitted accidentally breaking a condition of his bail by making indirect contact with her. “On January 31 at 6pm, the victim was at home with him,” prosecutor Peter Ashby said.

“She asked him to leave. She had asked him previously to leave. She said then he became nasty, shouting and arguing, pushing her on to the floor and holding her down with his foot for several minutes.

“Mr Lane is not very mobile and has diabetes. He lost his balance and fell on top of her, landing on her chest. He got up and calmed down.”

Mr Ashby said a doctor confirmed she had an injury to her sternum and possibly a fractured rib. Her care workers informed police, who questioned and bailed Lane. He said he toppled over because he was unsteady on his feet due to his diabetes.

“The background to this relationship is unusual,” said Mr Ashby. “Fifteen months ago he gave her a lift shortly after her husband died. She did not want him to know her address and asked him to drop her at the end of her road.

“She says he returned that evening and has been there ever since.

“She was having a problem with alcohol, she is a vulnerable widow. He returned the following day and slept on the sofa at first, then went to her bed. She never invited him to the house and to the bedroom.

“There was no physical relationship. She said she was glad of the company but it soon wore off. She made a loan of £750 which was never repaid, he drove the car and took all the decisions. She pays for everything.

“He will not let her answer the telephone and isolated her from family and friends. She is now afraid of what he may do.”

Lane, whose full name is Edward Anthony Lane, formerly of Canton Acre, Painswick, said he believed there were inaccuracies in evidence which he wished to pursue.

When he asked a court to vary the bail conditions last week so he could collect his law books and belongings from Mrs Bircher’s home, his request was refused because he wanted longer than the court would allow.

“I don’t know if I am going to get my property out or be locked up for eternity,” said Lane who plans to represent himself at trial and wants his law books back.

“I need equality of arms - at the moment I have none.”

Lane, who plans to represent himself at trial, was granted bail on condition he does not contact Mrs Bircher and other prosecution witnesses, and will be allowed one hour to collect his belongings from her home by prior arrangement with police. He will be tried at Stroud Magistrates’ Court on April 12.