JOURNALIST John Hatton sensationally walked out of his own domestic violence trial - claiming he would never get justice from a 'kangaroo court'.

Hatton, aged 59, of Bridgeside, Cainscross, was conducting his own defence before a judge at Stroud Magistrates' Court.

He was accused of a common assault on his ex-partner, Stella Hender.

But after deputy district judge William Thomas rejected a series of Hatton's legal submissions the freelancer - who specialises in miscarriages of justice - took the rare step of quitting his own trial on Monday.

Hatton said he wanted to prove that Ms Hender was an unreliable witness and suffered from a mental illness.

"My case is simply that there was domestic violence in this relationship - but it was her violence towards me," he said.

"The reality is that for years she has been suffering from an untreatable personality disorder."

But prosecutor Maxine Bown said there was no evidence to suggest Ms Hender had mental health issues.

Hatton said he wished to call a witness who had a conviction for a sex offence - but wanted the court to protect the man's identity from the press to prevent reprisals.

When Judge Thomas said he would deal with that application when the time arose, Hatton demanded an instant answer.

Judge Thomas refused and Hatton announced he was walking out.

The judge said the trial would continue in Hatton's absence and bailed him to return after lunch to hear the result.

After hearing Ms Hender's evidence the judge said he had heard enough to convict.

Hatton was found guilty of the assault on July 7 last year.

Ms Hender told the court she had been with Hatton for four years but that the relationship had ended that evening when he pulled out some of her hair in a drunken rage.

When Hatton returned to court he announced his intention to appeal.

He was bailed to return on April 21 for sentencing.