A ST Neots man has been committed to crown court for sentence after admitting assaulting an undertaker at his home in the early hours of New Year's Day. Magistrates in Huntingdon decided their powers were insufficient to sentence Andrew Gosnell of Swift

A ST Neots man has been committed to crown court for sentence after admitting assaulting an undertaker at his home in the early hours of New Year's Day. Magistrates in Huntingdon decided their powers were insufficient to sentence Andrew Gosnell of Swift Close, St Neots, who pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm against Darren Usher on January 1. Prosecutor John Goodier told the court that the complainant, an on-call undertaker, was at home in bed when 36-year-old Gosnell banged on his front door around 12.50am. Verbal abuse followed with the defendant shouting "I'll rip your head off" and the complainant's wife was then pushed backwards as Gosnell entered the house, before pinning Mr Usher against the wall by his throat, Mr Goodier said.He then head-butted the victim, causing a one-inch wide cut to his left eyelid. During police interview, Gosnell said a dispute between the two families had dated from the summer, but added he "totally regretted his actions". The prosecutor said any previous incidents had been denied by the complainant.Frank Squire, for Gosnell, said his client did not accept that he used threatening language towards the complainant and the incident had not just "come out of the blue".Gosnell is due to be sentenced at Peterborough Crown Court on February 10 and remains on conditional bail.