Lauren Goodger’s ex Charles Drury appeared in court on Tuesday charged with assault and controlling or coercive behaviour (Picture: Instagram)
The ex-boyfriend of Lauren Goodger has appeared in court where is charged with assault and coercive control.
Goodger, 36, is best-known for appearing on ITV’s The Only Way Is Essex, and is mum to two daughters: Larose, two, and Lorena, who died shortly after her birth last year.
Her ex, Charles Drury, is in court today accused of assaulting Goodger causing actual bodily harm in the hours after Lorena’s funeral in August last year.
The 26-year-old is also charged with engaging in ‘controlling or coercive behaviour’ against the reality star between August 1 2020 and August 5 2022.
In a brief preliminary hearing at Snaresbrook Crown Court on Tuesday, Drury placed not guilty to the charges.
The indictment claims he ‘engaged in behaviour towards Lauren Goodger that was controlling or coercive which had a serious effect’ on her, according to PA.
Drury denied the charges (Picture: Instagram/ Laurengoodger)
It alleges he ’caused Lauren Goodger to fear, on at least two occasions, that violence will be used against’ her, ‘at a time when he knew or ought to have known that the behaviour’ would have a ‘serious effect’ on her.
The second charge states that he ‘assaulted Lauren Goodger thereby occasioning her actual bodily harm’ on August 4 2022.
Drury, who attended court in a shirt and tie, spoke to confirm his name and enter his pleas of not guilty.
A second preliminary trial will take place in the same court on February 12, 2024, before a full trial listed for five days begins on March 18 of the same year.
Judge Oscar Del Fabbro released Drury on unconditional bail until that time.
The charges relate to an incident where police were called to Upminster in August where a woman aged in her 30s was treated for facial injuries.
At the time, it was reported Goodger was taken to hospital with serious facial injuries hours after the funeral for her daughter Lorena, who died shortly after birth.
Lorena died shortly after her birth and was laid to rest on August 3 (Picture: Laurengoodger/ Instagram)
A Metropolitan Police spokesman told Metro.co.uk: ‘Police were called at 00:37hrs on Thursday, 4 August to reports of an altercation at a residential address in Upminster, Essex.
‘Officers attended. At the scene a woman, aged 30s, was found with facial injuries.
‘A man, aged 25, was arrested on suspicion of assault. He was taken to an east London police station and subsequently bailed pending further enquiries. Enquiries continue.’
The couple, who split in January last year, share daughter Larose, who will turn two this month.
A representative for Goodger previously told Metro.co.uk: ‘Lauren has never commented on this police investigation and will not be commenting on this story.’
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For emotional support, you can contact Miscarriage Association’s pregnancy loss helpline on 01924 200799 or email [email protected].
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He has denied the charges.
