‘SPECTACULAR FALL FROM GRACE’ OF LECTURER

DRUNKEN ATTACK ON WIFE LEFT HER WITH BROKEN WRIST, BRUISES

A DRUNKEN university lecturer kicked and punched his terrified wife, causing a broken wrist and bruising to her limbs, body and face, writes Suzy Gibson.

The woman feared for her life and begged Ben Archer to stop during the sustained attack at the former matrimonial home in Desford.

The 58-year-old admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm upon his wife on Friday, August 7.

On the day of the attack, the defendant had been drinking heavily.

He announced he wanted to move abroad and said they should split up before knocking his wife off her chair, holding her down and banging her head against the floor. He repeatedly slapped her face, before punching her nose.

Judge Timothy Spencer QC told the defendant: “At 58 years of age, you stand in the dock of a crown court facing a charge of grievous bodily harm - it’s a spectacular fall from grace.”

Archer, a senior lecturer in communication arts at Leicester’s De Montfort University, has since resigned from his job.

A DRUNKEN university lecturer kicked and punched his terrified wife, causing a broken wrist and bruising to her limbs, body and face.

During the sustained attack at the former matrimonial home in Desford, the woman feared for her life and begged him to stop.

Ben Archer, a senior lecturer in communication arts at Leicester’s De Montfort University, has since resigned from his job.

The 58-year-old admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm upon his wife on Friday, August 7.

Abigail Joyce, prosecuting, told Leicester Crown Court the couple were married in 2003 and had known each other since they were 15.

On the day of the attack, the defendant, who was drinking heavily, became argumentative during their evening meal - when his wife refused his suggestion to remortgage their home.

He announced he wanted to move abroad and said they should split up.

He made a sarcastic comment about the amount of work she was doing from home and threw some wine towards her, which went up the wall, and then he angrily smashed the glass on a table.

Archer knocked his wife off her chair, held her down and banged her head against the floor.

He repeatedly slapped her face, before punching her nose.

She tried to push him off, then curled into a ball to protect herself.

Miss Joyce said: “She describes that at different times he was grabbing her hair and banging her head on the floor. He kicked her torso and legs, held her down by her wrists and with his knees whilst crouching over her.

“She shouted for him to stop, telling him he was going to kill her. He said he wasn’t going to kill her but bully her. He called her names saying the marriage was over a year ago.”

After a pause, he resumed the attack, again pulling her off a chair as she screamed for a neighbour to help.

Miss Joyce said: “He put his knee on her stomach and leaned over her, with his arm on her neck, as she struggled to breathe.”

Archer took the victim’s phone and threw it over the back fence. After intervention by neighbours, he left the house.

During the hearing, the prosecutor went through a long list of injuries, including a broken wrist, as well as swelling, reddening, multiple bruises and friction burns, all over.

In his police interview, Archer was appalled at himself, saying he thought his wife made a derogatory comment and he “lost it”.

He described being shocked by “the intensity and suddenness of the rage” he experienced.

Miss Joyce said Archer described “difficulties” in the relationship and said his drinking had increased during lockdown.

The complainant, in a recent statement, described still being in a “state of shock”. She added: “At the time I was in fear of my life. I was lying on the floor trying to protect myself from the man I love.

“It was my work that made my husband angry.”

She described several weeks of emotional abuse in the weeks before the attack. The victim also described feeling “desolate” at the end of their 20-year relationship, incorporating a friendship of 43 years.

Judge Timothy Spencer QC told the defendant: “You’re highly intelligent and you don’t need a lecture from me.

“This is tragic, it’s the ultimate deterioration of a marriage between two people who were, probably, once very much in love.

“You were taking solace in drink in increasing amounts and you recognise now you had a drink problem. “Your wife took solace in her work. “It may be there was always going to be a point when the relationship split apart, but it shouldn’t have come to this, as you rightly acknowledge.

“The injuries are serious and ugly, fortunately it was mainly bruises but they were extensive.

“You also broke her wrist and she’s still suffering from the results of that fracture, although indications are she will make a good recovery.

“You have demonstrated remorse, regret and shame.”

The judge said: “At 58 years of age, with an absolutely exemplary character, you stand in the dock of a crown court facing a charge of grievous bodily harm - it’s a spectacular fall from grace. I’ve rarely seen such an impressive sheet of references.

“These are very difficult times in prison and any judge must shy away from sending anyone to prison whilst Covid rages.

“With serious misgivings I’ve decided, just, that I will suspend the sentence and you will retain your liberty - but it couldn’t have come closer.”

James Armstrong-Holmes, mitigating, said: “It’s clear the relationship was coming to an end.

“He felt his wife’s work was taking priority over their relationship.

“There were other issues and he’d struggled with the death of his father in 2018.

“In February this year he went off work sick with depression.

“His drinking increased. It was the perfect storm. He understands the impact it’s had on his wife and feels utterly devastated. He’s bitterly sorry.

“He has taught both of his children, now adults, never to resort to violence. He developed an alcohol problem and has been seeking help and been attending Alcoholics Anonymous.

“He’s in a fragile state and if he goes to prison he may not get the help he desperately needs.”

Archer, of Wellington Street, Leicester city centre, was given a 20-month jail sentence, suspended for two years. He was ordered to pay £1,500 costs.