A father who whipped his estranged daughter with a belt in the street as she ran for safety said he felt 'good' for disciplining her.

Albert Lewis, 56, threw stones at his daughter’s head, before chasing and beating her with a belt while she was struggling to escape through a locked gate.

A neighbour called the police after seeing Lewis holding the belt ‘like a whip’ in Heath Lane, Chester on July 7.

But Lewis – who left his daughter with red marks on her shoulders, arms and chest – told police he 'felt good' and 'better' for disciplining his daughter whom he described as out of control.

Lewis, of Lime Grove, Hoole, pleaded guilty to assault by beating at Chester Magistrates Court today (Monday, August 18).

The victim, Patsy Campbell, said she was walking towards her mother’s house when her father pulled up in the car next to her, the court heard.

She tutted at him and he got out of the car and started swearing, before throwing stones at her while she hid behind a car – many just missed her head.

“She ran towards her mum’s home in the hope of getting through the side gate,” said Rob Youd, prosecuting.

“She found it was locked, she was trapped between the house and the gate.

“She could hear him loosening his belt. She did not turn around, she was still trying to get around the gate.”

Lewis hit his daughter four times before her mother came out and unlocked the gate, allowing her to escape.

During police interview, Lewis admitted he had hit his daughter three times – when asked how he felt about it he said: “I feel good, better.”

When asked if this kind of discipline was acceptable in his home country of Grenada in the Caribbean, he said: "Yes, because you wouldn't cuss or disrespect your parents".

Lewis, who has four previous convictions dating back to the 1990s, said his estranged daughter had spat at his car and it was the final straw in their relationship.

“The complainant has drug issues; she takes crack cocaine, smokes cannabis,” said James Bagby, defending.

“She spat on the vehicle. This was the straw that broke the camel’s back.”

He claimed that Lewis' daughter started hurling racist abuse, shouting that a ‘black man was chasing her’.

“It was straight out of a Carry On film, running round the vehicle chasing each other,” Mr Bagby added.

Lewis was bailed and will appear back before the court on September 9.