Argument ends with drunken assault on wife

Published on 4th September 2008 in News

A man has been ordered to carry out 100 hours of unpaid work after attacking his wife.

David John Pyper (27), of Edinburgh Street, flew into a drunken rage after his wife accused him of being unfatithful.

Mr Pyper slapped her several times in the face and to her head, Goole magistrates were told.

Mrs Pyper managed to get out of the house and call the police, who arrived to arrest her husband.

This week Mr Pyper appeared for sentencing at the court after pleading guilty to assault by beating at an earlier hearing.

Julie Laverack-Glanville, prosecuting, said the couple had had a "tempestuous" eight-year relationship, during which police had been called out to their house to deal with incidents of domestic violence.

She added that, on the night of the attack - June 28 this year - Mr Pyper had been to a snooker presentation evening at the Charter Club in Goole.

Before setting off he had become angry when his wife refused to go out with him, saying she was unwell.

An argument ensued and Mr Pyper left, not returning home until 4am, when he was "heavy in drink".

Another argument ensued and Mrs Pyper found what she thought was another woman's telephone number in Mr Pyper's jeans pocket. She then pressed him to find out if he had been unfaithful.

Ms Laverack-Glanville said the attack left Mrs Pyper with cuts to her nose and left eye.

In police interview Mr Pyper said his wife had been in a mood at the beginning of the evening and had been following him in her car while he was out.

He admitted, however, that he could turn nasty with his wife when he had been drinking.

Mr Pyper said he was prepared to undergo anger-management training to save his marriage.

Mr Pyper has one previous conviction for common assault on his wife in April, 2007, when he was given a 12-month conditional discharge.

He also has a police caution to his name for for assault ocasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) against Mrs Pyper in August, 2006.

For the latest offence, magistrates gave him an 18-month community order with a supervision requirement and 100 hours' unpaid work. He was also ordered to pay £55 prosecution costs.