A SOLDIER accused of dragging his wife down the stairs by her hair while calling her a “slag and a whore” has denied battery.

Paul Shipway, 27, of Quebec Road, Bulford, admitted a charge of common assault.

Salisbury Magistrates Court heard the alleged offence took place at 10.30pm on June 8 when Portia Shipway was asleep alongside her three-year-old son.

Prosecutor Vyvyan Thatcher said Mrs Shipway was awoken by a loud bang, to find Mr Shipway on top of her, pushing her head back onto the pillow.

He said the alleged victim was screaming as her husband called her a “slag, a whore and a bitch”.

Shipway, who is to deploy to Iraq later this year, will stand trial at Chippenham Magistrates Court on September 28.

He must not contact his wife, except via a third party to arrange child contact.