A Gorse Hill man was accused of “having a problem in [his] attitude towards women” after he drove at his partner in a hotel car park.

Arif Ahmed had accused his partner of cheating on him as they stayed at the White Hart Hotel last November, but became angry when she wanted to leave.

He tried to drag her back into the hotel, Swindon Crown Court heard on Wednesday (August 10), before driving towards his partner and her vehicle.

But he claimed that he was only trying to stop her from driving, saying in his view she was unfit to be behind the wheel.

Sentencing, Judge James Townsend said that Ahmed is “trying to minimise what you did and trying to excuse it”.

He imposed a community order, saying it was the “most productive way of dealing with” him.

Earlier, the court had been told that Ahmed, of Huddlestone Close, had been staying at the hotel when an argument broke out.

He claimed she was seeing other people and was “insulting and abusive towards her, calling her a crackhead amongst other things”, prosecutor Rupert Russell told the hearing.

The woman decided to sleep on the sofa, and the next morning they were sitting in the car talking.

“Mr Ahmed wanted her to stay longer, she refused and said she wanted to leave,” Mr Russell said.

“Mr Ahmed again became abusive.”

As the victim walked off, he ran back at her and grabbed her by the wrist, trying to drag her back into the hotel.

A scuffle ensued, with the victim at one point locking herself in the car before Ahmed attempted to smash the window.

He then got in his car and drove in the direction of the victim.

The 43-year-old told police that he had used “minor force to prevent her from driving, because he felt she was unfit to drive”.

Defending, Sam Arif said that both parties were accusing others of having affairs.

“That was why the defendant approached her and grabbed her by the top of the arms, and taking her into the hotel, effectively to say ‘look I was not here with anyone else’.

“During that they tussled and fell to the floor.”

Ms Arif said her client decided he had had enough and was leaving, when he saw the woman get in the car.

He “had concerns she was still intoxicated and over the limit”, so turned around and drove “as fast as he could” to the adjacent parking space.

Ms Arif said the defendant explained away witness reports that his car was revving loudly, because he had a jump start the night before.

She said the three months he has spent in custody on remand was the equivalent of a six-month sentence, just below the starting point.

Ahmed had denied dangerous driving and common assault, but was convicted after a trial in his absence at the magistrates’ court.

Judge Townsend said when passing sentence: “I am satisfied from what I have read in the pre-sentence report that you have a problem in your attitude towards women, and I take the view you are continuing trying to minimise what you did and trying to excuse it.

“You have served the equivalent of a six-month prison sentence which is a punishment in its own right.”

Taking into account his limited previous convictions and that he is the “sole carer” for his mother, who is in ill health, Judge Townsend concluded: “I take the view that the most productive way of dealing with you and the best way in trying to prevent you behaving in this way in the future is to pass a community order.”

Ahmed was given a 12-month order, with 15 rehabilitation activity days.

He was also banned from driving for 15 months and must pass an extended retest before holding a licence again.

Judge Townsend also made a 5-year restraining order preventing him contacting his former partner.