A mother-of-three faces trial for allegedly firing a fake firearm at her former partner, beating him with a bat and running him over with a car.

Lucy Halladey, of Little Oxhey Lane, Watford, appeared at Chelmsford Crown Court in custody on Thursday.

The 40year-old's appearance follows her arrest in Clacton, where the incident took place, on December 12.

She pleaded not guilty to seven charges relating to the alleged incident at St Osyth Beach Holiday Park and Judge Patricia Lynch QC set her trial for an unspecified date in late April.

Halladey, wearing a black jumper and with her long blonde hair tied in a plait, was in tears as she stood in the dock. She was further remanded in custody but her lawyer is expected to seek bail.

Halladey denies attempting to inflict grievous bodily harm with intent on Terry Sabine, assaulting him causing actual bodily harm, possessing a firearm, a BB gun, with intent to cause him fear of violence, having an offensive weapon, a rounders bat, in the holiday park car park, driving a Nissan car dangerously in the car park and two offences of causing criminal damage to caravans.

At an earlier magistrate’s court hearing it was said that Halladey and Mr Sabine had been in an on-off relationship for three years.

Mr Sabine is said to have suffered cuts and bruises in the incident.