Woman accuses babyfather of spitting on her

A St James man who allegedly spat on his babymother during a confrontation in July was ordered by the St James Parish Court to attend counselling sessions with her to settle their differences, ahead of his next court appearance.

Clive Hall got the order from presiding Judge Sasha-Marie Ashley on Wednesday after he pleaded not guilty to the charge of common assault. Allegations are that on July 13, the complainant was walking along Cottage Road in Montego Bay when Hall drove up beside her in his motor vehicle. Hall got out of the car and confronted the complainant, yanking her cap from her head. It is further alleged that when the complainant crossed the road to get away from Hall, he followed her and spat on the back of her neck.

"Would you like to sit with a mediator and discuss the issues?" Judge Ashley asked the complainant after hearing the allegations.

"No, Your Honour...this man is constantly stalking me, constantly physically and verbally abusing me. I have made several complaints at the police station, and when they go to his house, they do not see him, and I am sick and tired and fed up of it," the complainant replied, adding that she had applied for a restraining order at the Family Court.

But Hall denied spitting on the complainant, claiming instead that he confronted her about neglecting their children.

"What happened is that she leave the three kids in the house ... she leave them and gone to a dance. When I saw her, I said, 'Where is my child?'" said Hall. "She tried to fight with me, and she said 'Lick me, lick me,' and I said, 'Lick you for what?'"

Ashley subsequently referred the parties to the probation office for counselling and set Hall's matter for mention on September 15.