NEIGHBOUR FILMS HUSBAND KICKING AND GRABBING WIFE DURING GARDEN PARTY IN ASHINGTON
A neighbour secretly filmed a husband kicking out at and grabbing his wife during a summer afternoon party in their garden.The witness spotted Nicholas Sexton assaulting his partner at a social gathering in their back garden and decided to get his phone out and starting taking a video.
A court heard that the neighbour also rang the police and officers soon arrived at the scene in Ashington, however, the victim refused to admit she'd been subject of an attack.
Sexton was arrested anyway after the constables viewed the witness's mobile phone footage and he was charged with assault by beating.
The 44-year-old, of Heatherhope, in Ashington, pleaded guilty to the offence when he appeared at Newcastle Magistrates' Court this week.
Prosecutor, James Long, said Sexton and the victim had been hosting a gathering on July 13 last year.
Mr Long continued: "There was a report to the police from a neighbour.
It would appear that there was a social event taking place in the defendant's back garden.
During the course of that, he assaulted his partner." "The witness provided some footage from their mobile phone, which police officers viewed.
The victim has been seated in the back garden.
All parties had been taking alcohol." "It's 8pm and the weather is reasonable and everyone is out in the back garden.
An officer looks at the video, which lasts about 40 seconds, and it shows the defendant shouting at the victim and pointing in an aggressive manner towards her.
It then shows the defendant kicking out towards the victim and it shows him grabbing her around the back of the head and a female having to push him away." The court heard that the victim had not provided a statement and the prosecution relied on the video footage.
Peter Doherty, defending, said Sexton’s kicks had not made contact with his partner.
He added: "They live together still and she's supporting him as he's not able to work for a variety of reasons." Sexton was given a six-month conditional discharge and must pay £85 costs and a £26 victim surcharge.
