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George Kitt accused of attacking Nicola Couperthwaite after drinking in Rochester's The Huntsman pub

A man battered a woman unconscious in a dark alley outside a busy pub before tossing her shoes over a fence, a court heard.

George Kitt, 23, of Mills Terrace, Chatham, reportedly rained his fist into Nicola Couperthwaite’s face when she fell on her back and attempted to block more of his blows.

However, a jury has been unable to reach a verdict in the case.

Miss Couperthwaite, also 23, claims she lost consciousness then woke up covered in blood moments later surrounded by police.

The Huntsman
The Huntsman

She told the court: “I was knocked down a couple of times, it was very forceful, it made me stumble and then there were more blows.

“He kept going, he kept punching, I got up and then was punched to the floor.

“There was a time when he was over me and he kept punching me on the floor.”

Sat several metres from Kitt, she showed Canterbury Crown Court how she covered her face during the alleged assault.

She claimed after regaining consciousness medics worked to repair her misaligned and broken teeth at Medway Maritime Hospital.

She noticed her shoes had also been thrown over a nearby fence afterwards, the court heard.

“I didn’t have time to think about what was happening, I was just trying to defend myself.

“I was trying to block some of his punches to defend my face – I just remember him repeatedly punching my face,” Miss Couperthwaite explained.

“What happened after that?” asked prosecutor Libby Anderson.

Canterbury Crown Court (10438238)
Canterbury Crown Court (10438238)

“I was knocked unconscious, the next thing I remember is the police being there.

“I knew there was something wrong with my mouth, I couldn’t close it completely.”

The attack is said to have happened shortly after midnight in an alley adjacent to The Hunstman in Pattens Lane, Rochester, on February 24, 2018.

Miss Couperthwaite claimed she was beaten up after trying to break up a fight between Kitt, who was unknown to her, and her boyfriend Jack Simmonds.

Since his arrest Kitt, who faces one charge of causing actual bodily harm, has maintained his innocence.

His barrister claimed Miss Couperthwaite was injured when she attacked Kitt from behind, during the tussle.

“I knew there was something wrong with my mouth, I couldn’t close it completely...” Miss Couperthwaite

Kitt said: “I was getting scratched and grabbed from behind.

“My natural instinct kicked in and I just shook it off, then I saw Nicola lying face down on the floor.

“I thought she was doing it just to stop our fight. She threw herself off me – the way she did it was dramatic.”

Kitt told the jury he didn't know Miss Couperthwaite was injured and so left the scene with his friend Charlie Bennett, 23.

The next day he would offer Mr Simmonds out for another fight via social media after being accused of assaulting Miss Couperthwaite, the court heard.

Miss Anderson told him: “As you were so drunk you didn’t know who you were hitting and you were so angry you didn’t care.

“You were violent to relieve drunk frustration weren’t you.”

“No,” he replied.

By late on Friday, the jury had been unable to reach a verdict. The Crown Prosecution Service is considering whether or not to seek a retrial.

To read more of our in depth coverage of all of the major trials coming out of crown and magistrates' courts across the county, click here.

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