A MAN who once ended up in court after drunkly wearing a cone on his head admitted assaulting a woman on the day of his trial.
Daniel O'Donnell, of Park Avenue, Worcester, was warned by a judge he is now facing jail after admitting his latest offences.
The 28-year-old previously denied one count of putting a person in fear of violence by harassment and at Worcester Crown Court on Tuesday, (April 18) his four-day trial was due to begin.
But following discussions between the prosecution and defence O'Donnell admitted two new counts when they were read to him by a court clerk.
O'Donnell pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm and acting in breach of a restraining order.
Both counts related to an incident on March 22 last year, the court heard.
The ABH charge referenced in the particulars that his offence had "included strangulation".
The victim was the same woman in both counts, the court heard.
READ MORE: 'Traffic cone man' Daniel O'Donnell awaits sentence for harassment
READ MORE: Man, 27, denies 'putting a person in fear of violence by harassment'
READ MORE: Traffic cone man slams court appearance as 'ridiculous'
David Brunt, prosecuting, said O'Donnell's pleas satisfied the crown who will ask for the count O'Donnell had denied to lie on file.
The prosecutor reminded the court O'Donnell is also to be sentenced for harassment in breach of a restraining order.
The defendant had admitted that charge at magistrates court the breach having taken place on November 11 2021, after the restraining order was imposed by the courts on April 13 that year.
Niall Skinner, defending, said by committing the new offences O'Donnell was in breach of a suspended prison sentence and asked for a pre-sentence report.
He said O'Donnell was a labourer and asked for the curfew times of his bail to be amended so he could make it to building sites in the early morning, an application His Honour Judge Martin Jackson granted.
Asking O'Donnell to stand the judge told him to return to the court for his sentence on May 25.
The judge said the fact he was ordering a report should not be taken as a promise as to what O'Donnell's sentence will be.
"The (sentencing) judge will have all options available to him, including immediate imprisonment if they find it appropriate," Judge Jackson said.
Daniel O'Donnell made headlines as 'traffic cone man'
Daniel “Dod” O’Donnell made national headlines in August 2016 after drinking on a night out in Worcester city centre before wearing the cone on head, leading to him being arrested and charged by police.
The former forklift operator was later handed a conditional discharge by Worcester magistrates for six months following the incident in Foregate Street in Worcester, and told the Worcester News the whole case had been "ridiculous".
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