Rolling Stone guitarist arrested for choking 20-year old Russian lover in the street

Rolling Stone Ronnie Wood was arrested amid claims that he “choked” his young Russian lover during a violent street bust-up.

The guitarist, 62, reportedly dragged 20-year-old Ekaterina Ivanova by her neck in the 30-minute row and would have killed her if it wasn’t for the interference of strangers.

He was held on suspicion of assault but freed yesterday on police bail pending further inquiries.

According to The Sun, Wood had threatened to stub out a cigarette in his Russian lover’s face as they argued in the street.

Police arrested the wrinkly Rolling Stones legend after witnesses claimed they saw him “choking” waif-like waitress Ekaterina while dragging her screaming along a pavement.

Last night eyewitnesses claimed he only stopped the assault after a man heard “gurgling” sounds and shouted at him to stop.

Ekaterina – said to have been dragged 20ft by the collar of her blouse and jacket – suffered knee injuries near the pair’s Surrey home on Wednesday night. Her tights had been ripped.

According to The Sun, witness Celine Dixon said: “We heard a woman screaming, then saw a man pinning her to the ground.

“He was shouting at her then we heard choking sounds so my boyfriend rushed out to help. When he got outside he saw it was Ronnie and Ekaterina.”

Wood apparently walked away, leaving dazed Ekaterina crying in a shop doorway when challenged by Celine’s boyfriend Phillip Legge.

She was helped to Phillip and Celine’s nearby home and questioned by police.

Officers then drove her to the £5million apartment she shares with Wood in Claygate, Surrey, and arrested him on suspicion of assault.

The alcoholic rock idol – worth an estimated £70million – spent a night sobering up in a grim cell at Staines Police Station.

A police source said: “Ekaterina was very distressed and had cuts on her knees from where it seems she’d been dragged along the street.

“But she was insistent she didn’t want police involved or to press charges.

“Despite her refusal, witnesses allege this was a potentially serious assault and he may face charges in any case once the evidence is assessed.

It is the second time in recent months police have been called to an argument between dad-of-four Wood and Ekaterina – at the centre of his break-up from wife Jo in July of last year.