Ex-rugby ace ripped up his wife’s dresses after accusing her of an affair
A FORMER professional rugby player ripped up his estranged wife’s dresses in a fit of jealousy after accusing her of having an affair with a work colleague.
Powerfully-built Nick Owen sent a slew of abusive messages to his spouse of 12 years while she was out with friends, a court heard yesterday.
The 39-year-old, who played for former Super League team Leigh Centurions, then raided Katie Owen’s wardrobe at their marital home, telling her: ‘No way are you seeing someone from work. I am done, you lying b******.’
Ms Owen, a customer services advisor for the Environment Agency, later returned to the property in Warrington, Cheshire, to find dresses worth a total of £460 had been destroyed.
Police discovered that father-oftwo Owen had earlier that evening warned her: ‘I am going for him.’
After he unexpectedly turned up at a pub where she was socialising with colleagues, she fled home – only to find Owen already there with the couple’s son and daughter, aged 16 and 12.
In subsequent WhatsApp and text messages he told her: ‘Answer the phone. You have abandoned your children and you are seeing that bloke. If you do not answer I am going to your mum’s and punch the f*** out of your dad.’
Owen, of Orford, Warrington, who now works as an electrician, pleaded guilty to harassment and criminal damage. He was ordered to complete 120 hours of unpaid work and pay £460 in compensation for the damaged dresses.
Warrington Magistrates Court heard the couple married in 2011 but their relationship began to deteriorate in 2019 due to Owen’s abuse of alcohol, which was said to trigger outbursts of jealousy. They split up in August last year.
Ms Owen, who is in her 30s, was out with friends last December, prosecutor Michael O’Kane said, when Owen sent her a message reading: ‘Where are you?’
When she asked ‘ Why?’, he replied that he was ‘ going for him’. Mr O’Kane said she was ‘shocked’ when Owen turned up at the pub. She got a lift home, but after finding he was already there went to stay with her sister.
‘Threatening’ messages continued that night, the court heard. She later returned home to find he had ‘ripped apart’ her dresses.
Owen, who has previous convictions for drink driving and criminal damage, was also handed a 12-month community order with requirements that he complete 25 days of rehabilitation activity.