Man remanded in custody

A Timaru man admitted holding a woman around her throat and choking her for several minutes when he appeared in the Timaru District Court yesterday. Norman Ryan, 47, had become angry with the woman on January 28 when she questioned up about his intentions “to go to a friend’s house in Ō amaru”. In his anger, Ryan threw the complainant onto her bed. ‘‘He climbed on top of her and put a hand around her throat and proceeded to choke her for three or four minutes,’’ the police summary said. ‘‘The defendant used enough force to restrict the complainant’s breathing for several seconds.’’ He was remanded in custody by Judge Raoul Neave for sentencing on July 18.