Prosecutors drop strangling charges as Wigan borough man admits to lesser assault

A Wigan borough 31-year-old who denied strangling a woman has seen his trial next year scrapped after the prosecution accepted his guilty plea to a lesser assault charge.
By Charles Graham
Published 23rd Apr 2024, 15:45 BST
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

Liam O'Brien, of Wigan Road in Leigh, was to have appeared before a jury at Bolton Crown Court on September 2025 after pleading not guilty to intentionally throttling a named woman on December 16.

Read More
Exclusive: see inside the Wigan Mill that is set to be the first phase of The Co...

But at the latest hearing the more serious offence was dismissed as he pleaded guilty to assault by beating.

He was given a three-month conditional discharge, a 12-month restraining order was imposed preventing any contact with his victim and he was ordered to pay £26 to victim services.