BRUTON: NO BAIL FOR CRASH BOYFRIEND

A jilted boyfriend accused of trying to murder his ex-partner when he smashed through her lounge wall in his car was refused bail.

Edward Bruton, 42, is said to have plotted the ‘premeditated’ attack on Tara Lavery while she was at home with her three children, and a friend’s child, in Caversham, near Reading, Berkshire.

Ms Lavery and the other occupants were not in the room at the time of the estimated 80mph collision, which demolished the front wall of the property in South View Avenue on February 26, this year.

Ian Dear, prosecuting, said Bruton suffered ‘extremely serious injuries’ after he had wedged a garden fork between the pedals and his throat ahead of the impact.

He was then said to have filmed the aftermath on his mobile as he sat at the wheel of his black Peugeot in her lounge.

Ms Lavery, whose children were by a different man, was not injured but was said to be very shaken by the incident and was being looked after by friends.

The family’s terraced home was shored up by structural engineers and boarded up because it was unsafe.

A spokesman for the South Central Ambulance Service confirmed Bruton was taken to the Royal Berkshire Hospital.

‘He had a severe cut to his throat as well as injuries to his chest and neck. We took three children to hospital, two girls and a boy but all were allowed home after treatment.’

Ms Lavery has since moved house.

Bruton, who is due to stand trial at Inner London Crown Court on September 19, was not at the application for bail hearing at the same court.

On behalf of the prosecution Mr Dear opposed bail and Judge Lindsay Burn refused his release.

Summarising the prosecution case the judge said: ‘The applicant is charged with attempted murder and various other related offences arising from an incident in February where the relationship with his long-term girlfriend had apparently ended.

‘He drives up to Reading, and drove his car with such force that the car and ended up in the living room.

‘Fortunately no-one was in the room at the time.’

Bruton, of Harrow Road, Wembley, nw London, denies attempted murder of one or more of the occupants of (131) South View Avenue, Caversham, criminal damage with intent to endanger life in the same terms, criminal damage reckless as to whether life is endangered and dangerous driving.
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