Magistrates have issued a court order that bans a man from seeing his girlfriend for 28 days.

The domestic violence protection order was agreed after magistrates ruled that Bigrigg man Andrew Hinde, 39, had probably been violent to his partner Rebecca Graves in recent weeks.

Detective Constable Tom Windridge told magistrates at Carlisle’s Rickergate court that police were called out to the defendant’s address at Croftlands, Bigrigg, near Egremont, in the early hours of Sunday.

They went there to investigate a suspected assault on Miss Graves by Hinde. Neighbours had reported seeing Miss Graves fleeing from the property, where she has been living with Hinde.

She had a head wound.

“Police arrived at the address and located Miss Graves,” said DC Windridge.

“We also located Andrew Hinde, who also had a head wound. Both gave differing accounts as to how those injuries occurred.

“The officers made a decision that Andrew Hinde would be arrested at that time; and in custody he denied assaulting Rebecca Graves,

“She refused to provide a statement. As a result, no further action was taken.”

The officer said that the call-out on Sunday was the fifth occasion when police had been sent to the address to investigate alleged domestic violence incidents since July.

The previous four reports to police had come from Miss Graves’ family, who were concerned that she was in a violent relationship.

She had not previously disclosed any violence to the police, said DC Windridge, but those nearest to her were concerned for her.

She was currently staying with relatives.

DC Windridge explained that the purpose of the domestic violence prevention order was to give Miss Graves respite, and an opportunity to remove herself from a violent relationship. He said the order was necessary to protect Miss Graves.

Magistrates granted the order, noting that Mr Hinde had been told about the hearing and had failed to turn up for it.

The chairman of the bench added: “We are satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the defendant has been violent towards her and the order is necessary to protect her from future violence.”

The court order, which forbids Hinde from making any contact with Miss Graves, is civil in nature, though breaching it would be a criminal offence.