A FORMER policeman accused of assaulting his estranged wife was trying to save her life, Colchester Magistrates' Court has heard.

Pere Daobry, 43, formerly of Landermere Road, Thorpe-le-Soken, appeared before the court yesterday but his trial was adjourned until July 1 for both sides to prepare expert reports.

The former London Met Officer, who now works as a private security guard, pleaded not guilty to assault by beating Sarah Jay in Clacton on December 27, during his last court appearance on February 9.

Simon Bravery, for the Crown Prosecution Service, described this as an very unusual case of domestic violence, one he had not seen like in his 23-year-career.

“The defendant thought his partner at the time of the offence was swallowing pills which might have led to her death. He did grab her around the throat but says it was to save her life,” he said.

“It’s not a defence I have had to deal with before.

"The defendant is a former Metropolitan Police officer. He was acting with his training, using techniques that were an accepted and appropriate response,” he told the court.

Both he and Miss Peta-Louise Baggott, for the defence, called for evidence from certain experts.

The court ordered the Crown to serve the report on the defence by Wednesday, June 8, with the defence responding to it within 14 days afterwards.

The trial date was then set for July 1, with Daobry summonsed to appear back at Colchester Magistrates' Court on that day.

Daobry was granted bail on condition he does not enter Tendring District, he resides at his current London address and he does not contact the complainant Sarah Jay either directly or indirectly, including the use of Twitter, Facebook, texting, email, “all electronic means.”