Ex-county officer attacked wife with a prosecco bottle

SENTENCE REFERRED FOR REVIEW

A FORMER Leicestershire Police officer who left his wife with bleeding on the brain when he attacked her with a prosecco bottle has had his punishment reviewed for potentially being unduly lenient.

Marc Winter, 58, was a “highly decorated” former police inspector with an “exemplary” career, who also served with Northumbria Police before viciously assaulting his partner.

After the pair had been out for a drink, Winter attacked his wife, Selina Winter – also a police officer – at their bungalow, a court heard. Mrs Winter collapsed unconscious after finally getting out.

Winter, pictured, who served with Northumbria Police for 23 years after serving in Leicestershire, pleaded guilty to causing unlawful wounding.

A judge at Newcastle Crown Court said it was only his career as a police officer, which ended in 2016, that saved him from immediately going to prison.

It has now emerged his case was referred to the Attorney General’s office to be reviewed under the Unduly Lenient Sentence (ULS) scheme, sister site ChronicleLive reports.

But the case was not referred on to the Court of Appeal as a result.

In a victim impact statement, Mrs Winter said her life had changed considerably following the attack by the person she loved most. She was still suffering from her injuries months later, including daily headaches, fatigue, insomnia and dizziness. Mrs Winter had also lost some hair.

Due to her injuries, she was unable to drive for six months. Mrs Winter added: “I can’t believe my husband could to this to me after 15 years. As a police officer of 12 years, I have responded to many domestic incidents and spoken to victims and perpetrators but I’m struggling to come to terms with being on the other side and being a victim myself.

“I feel like I’m looking in on someone else’s life.

“I’ve had 12 years of self-defence training and I did nothing. That’s proving hard to come to terms with.

“I’ve never felt as frightened or fearful as I did on that day.

“I genuinely thought I was going to die. I know how lucky I am to be here and able to type this victim personal statement.”

The couple had been together for almost 25 years and were married for four, a court heard. They are no longer together.

On August 23, 2019, the pair left their local pub in Whitley Bay at 10pm, stopping on their way home to buy a bottle of prosecco and food.

At home, while watching TV, Winter brought up the subject of marital difficulties the pair were having, which Mrs Winter did not want to discuss.

She said Winter “would not let it drop” and she tried ignoring him.

He then went on to attack her with the prosecco bottle. Mrs Winter felt several blows across the head.

After eventually escaping with nothing on her feet, she made it back to the pub where she collapsed on the floor.

Upon arrest, Winter claimed he’d been “hit over the head with a glass and acted in self-defence”.

Winter, of Whitley Bay, pleaded guilty to unlawful wounding and was sentenced to two years, suspended for two years, and ordered to do 120 hours of unpaid work.

Judge Amanda Rippon told Winter: “You were protecting and serving the public for going on four decades and this is an ignominious end to what was a character properly described as not just good but exemplary.

“Instead of protecting, you injured. Instead of serving, you harmed.

“I need to make it clear, this is an exceptional course I’m taking because when a husband picks up a bottle and hits his wife over the head multiple times, they generally go straight to prison.

“The only reason I’ve told you I would not send you to prison is because of the life you led up until August last year.”