A man has admitted spitting at a woman and verbally abusing her during an incident in Winchester city centre.

The assault took place as the woman stood in Market Lane, at around 2.20pm on Thursday 10 October.

She was approached by a man she did not know. He asked her for a lighter, and when she said she did not have one, he spat at her and subjected her to homophobic abuse before walking off.

Christopher Peake, 43, of Christchurch Road, Winchester, was arrested following an investigation and charged with assault by beating and using threatening/abusive/insulting words/behaviour to cause harassment/alarm/distress.

He was also charged with possession of a controlled drug of Class A and possession of a controlled drug of Class B.

Peake appeared at Basingstoke Magistrates’ Court today (Monday 21 October) where he admitted the offences.

He is due to be sentenced at the same court on Monday 16 December.

ENDS