#EXCLUSIVE #Dragons039 #Den #contestant #won #60k #investment #food #business #039knocked #heavily #pregnant #partner #violent #row039
A successful Dragon’s Den participant has been remanded in prison following a claim he knocked out his heavily pregnant partner during a violent argument.
Businessman Ross Mendham, who won a £60,000 investment in his low-calorie food business that now has products stocked in major supermarkets, is said to have punched Annabelle Weedall in the face.
She also suffered injuries to her arms, prosecutor Josephine Jones told magistrates in Norwich. Ms Weedall was 32 weeks pregnant at the time.
Mendham, 40, was arrested on December 2 after police were alerted to the alleged attack.
He appeared in court last week where he spoke only to confirm his name, age and address.
![Dragon’s Den participant Ross Mendham, who won a £60,000 investment in his low-calorie food business has been remanded in prison following a claim he knocked out his heavily pregnant partner Annabelle Weedall during a violent argument](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/13/18/78925637-12860265-Dragon_s_Den_participant_Ross_Mendham_who_won_a_60_000_investmen-a-2_1702492226763.jpg)
Dragon’s Den participant Ross Mendham, who won a £60,000 investment in his low-calorie food business has been remanded in prison following a claim he knocked out his heavily pregnant partner Annabelle Weedall during a violent argument
![Mendham, 40, was arrested on December 2 after police were alerted to the alleged attack](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/13/18/78925741-12860265-Mendham_40_was_arrested_on_December_2_after_police_were_alerted_-a-3_1702492226764.jpg)
Mendham, 40, was arrested on December 2 after police were alerted to the alleged attack
His solicitor, Matt Diss, said his client denied assault occasioning actual bodily harm, adding he had ‘never done so’.
The Bench committed the matter to be heard at Norwich Crown Court after Ms Jones argued the serious nature of the allegation meant their powers were insufficient to hear the case.
Mendham was refused bail and told he would remain in prison until a preliminary hearing which is due to take place in the new year.
Former bodybuilder Mendham initially thought he had ‘blown’ his opportunity when he appeared on the BBC programme in 2013.
He froze during intense questioning about his instant noodle and pasta business, Barenaked Noodles, which specialises in low-calorie and low-carb products.
Reduced to stuttering by the experience, he abandoned his pitch and left the studio, only to be encouraged to return by the Dragons.
Entrepreneur Peter Jones ended up offering him the five-figure sum for a 50 per cent stake in the venture, which is now called Barenaked Foods and is available in Waitrose, Sainsbury’s, Tesco and Morrisons.
During his appearance, Mendham also broke down in tears in front of the cameras as he described how his then wife Kelly, who was 32, had just suffered her third miscarriage.
![Mendham, the son of former City of Norwich footballer Peter Mendham, has been living in a £550,000 detached four-bedroom house in Cringleford](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2023/12/13/18/78925743-12860265-Mendham_the_son_of_former_City_of_Norwich_footballer_Peter_Mendh-a-4_1702492226765.jpg)
Mendham, the son of former City of Norwich footballer Peter Mendham, has been living in a £550,000 detached four-bedroom house in Cringleford
The following year he revealed the couple had since had a ‘miracle’ baby boy, Oliver, who was born following an emergency caesarean section.
Mendham, the son of former City of Norwich footballer Peter Mendham, has been living in a £550,000 detached four-bedroom house in Cringleford on the outskirts of Norwich with Ms Weedall, 31.
The couple went into business together with another venture, God of Design Ltd, which produced clothes for specialist stores, but the company was dissolved in June.
Mendham also set up Beluga Aesthetics Ltd in 2017, a hairdressing and beauty treatment business, and Olivier Santos Jewellery Ltd in 2019, which manufactured jewellery and related articles. The companies were dissolved in 2020 and 2021 respectively.
Mendham will appear at Norwich Crown Court on January 3.