Australia warns citizens over risk of arrest in China
FORMER Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan wept as he admitted assaulting his partner in a drunken and “sustained” attack.
The 39-year-old, who left the group on Monday citing personal reasons, appeared at Leicester Magistrates Court yesterday and pleaded guilty to attacking Vikki Ager on April 9.
A district judge ordered him to carry out 200 hours of unpaid work for the offence.
The court was told Meighan “smelt heavily of intoxicants” as he “threw the victim across the room in a rage”.
Ms Ager hit her head on a hamster cage after being thrown across the room.
The defendant also grabbed her leg and struck her on the head before threatening to hit her with a wooden pallet.
The court heard a child witnessed the assault and contacted 999 to say a “domestic incident was taking place”.
Prosecutor Naeem Valli said the child “sounded panicked and afraid” while making the call and the victim could be heard saying “get off me, get off me”.
Mr Valli said officers described Ms Ager as being “visibly upset” while Meighan was said to be “uncooperative and aggressive”.
Meighan, of Narborough, Leicestershire, originally denied an assault had taken place but after watching video footage he told officers he could not watch it any further because it was “horrible”.
The court heard Ms Ager suffered bruising to her knees, left elbow, outer ankle and big toe as well as a reddening around the neck, which she confirmed to officers was as a result of the assault.
Sentencing Meighan, District Judge Nick Watson said: “Ms Ager has not made a statement to police and does not appear to support this prosecution. Of course, that choice does not mean I should treat this offence any less seriously.”
During the hearing CCTV of the attack was played in court as he wiped his eyes and held his head in his hands. Defending him, Michelle Heeley QC told the court he “offers his sincere apologies to the people he has let down and he has sought to address his offending behaviour”.
AUSTRALIA has warned its nationals that they may be at risk of “arbitrary detention” if they visit China.
Updated travel advice for China states “authorities have detained foreigners because they’re ‘endangering national security,’” adding that “Australians may also be at risk of arbitrary detention”. It comes as relations have plummeted over Australia’s calls for an independent investigation into the Covid-19 pandemic.
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison has said his government was considering an offer of safe haven to Hong Kong residents threatened by Beijing’s move to impose a tough national security law on the semi-autonomous Chinese territory.