TV star chef free after wife assault

TRIBUTES have been paid to a kennel owner killed in a dog attack.

Residents of Auchterhouse in Angus have been shocked by the death of Adam Watts, 55, pictured above.

Mr Watts owned Juniper Kennels and Cattery in the village, where the attack happened on Wednesday afternoon.

Police arrived but dad-of-five Mr Watts was dead at the scene.

People in Auchterhouse paid tribute. One woman said: “We were aware of

A TAYSIDE Masterchef star has avoided jail for assaulting his wife, causing her to plunge down a flight of stairs.

Lewis Donegan, who cooked lunch for the Queen and founded the Dundee Cooking Academy, was found guilty of domestic assault after a trial earlier this year.

Perth Sheriff Court heard he attacked partner Sinead at their Inchture home during a drink-fuelled argument.

Sentence was deferred to give Mr Donegan the chance to prove he could stay out of trouble.

The 35-year-old, who previously appeared on TV’s Masterchef: The Professionals, was at Alloa Sheriff Court yesterday and sentenced to 50 hours of unpaid work.

He has been given nine months to complete the order. a police presence in the area yesterday afternoon and there was also an ambulance.”

Mr Watts cared for many dogs during 20 years running the kennels and took in animals from the Scottish SPCA animal welfare centre at Petterden.

Dundee and Angus firm Wallace Vets also paid tribute.

Sheriff Neil Bowie told him after the trial: “It may not have been your intent to cause your wife to fall down the stairs but I am satisfied it was your intention to physically assault her.

“She was intoxicated and it would not have been difficult for her to lose her footing.”

Mrs Donegan, 32, told the court she had been drinking at the family home in Colonsay Gardens.

She followed her husband upstairs and they argued on the landing.

“There was screaming about something,” she said. “I can’t remember what the disagreement was about.

“It is with huge sadness that we learn of the passing of Adam Watts, of Juniper Kennels,” they said.

“Our heartfelt thoughts and deepest sympathies go to his family and friends at this difficult time.”

Another neighbour felt for Adam’s children after hearing the “devastating” news.

“Then there was a shove, and I ended up downstairs.”

She was shown a police photo of her bruised elbow, which she confirmed was a result of her fall.

Mrs Donegan told the trial she dialled 999 but hung up.

“It was quite a serious thing to phone the police and I just didn’t want any trouble,” she said.

Officers arrived just before 11pm. Constable Sean Robertson told the court there was signs of a disturbance in the home and Mrs Donegan was visibly bruised and distressed.

He said Mr Donegan was arrested on suspicion of domestic assault and taken to Perth police station for questioning.

He told investigators: “She pushed me and I pushed her back.

“I shoved her and as a result of that, she fell down the stairs.”

Asked how it felt to have caused injury to his wife, Donegan replied: “Terrible.”

Lewis Donegan.