AN ACCUSED Herefordshire man alleged to have strangled a woman and escaped from custody has been sent to the crown court.

Anthony Rouse appeared before magistrates in Hereford in November accused of one count of intentional strangulation, one of escape from lawful custody, two of assault by beating, and one of assaulting an emergency worker by beating.

The court heard from prosecutor Mark Hambling that the 38-year-old is accused of intentionally strangling a woman and assaulting two women by beating in Hereford on July 31.

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He is also accused of assaulting an emergency worker, namely a police officer acting in the course of her duties, by beating in Hereford on July 31.

He is further accused, as a person who was in lawful custody in Hereford on July 31, of escaping from custody.

The case was sent to Worcester Crown Court, where Rouse, who is of Kempton Avenue, Hereford, will appear for a plea and trial preparation hearing.

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