Husband attacked his wife with sausage rolls

A BUSINESSMAN attacked his wife with sausage rolls at their £2 million house in Hampshire after she asked him whether he had visited London for “cocaine and hookers”, a court was told.

Nolan Bird, 48, flew into a rage and “smashed up” the marital home in Lovedean after his wife Heather questioned his motives about a night out with friends in March last year.

Portsmouth magistrates’ court heard Bird, a co-founder of architectural design company NA Curtain Walling, struck his wife in the face, shoved her to the floor, called her “pathetic”, and then hurled a pack of sausage rolls at her nose.

Two months later, he sent a barrage of abusive messages in which he repeatedly called her a “c---” and demanded she move out. After admitting assault at an earlier hearing in November, Bird was this week given a two-year restraining order banning him from contacting his wife, who filed for divorce after the incident.

Prosecutor Rhys Evans told the court Bird attacked his wife after returning home from London on Mar 3 last year.

“He went to London with friends, which sparked an argument. She texted him asking if he went for cocaine and hookers,” Mr Evans said.

Upon returning to their house that evening, Bird was described as “going mad” as he launched an attack on his wife of 25 years.

“This was a prolonged and sustained assault which included a weapon as he threw a packet of sausage rolls at her which hit her on the nose,” said Mr Evans.

Two months later, on May 6, Bird sent a stream of offensive and abusive text messages to his wife when she had left the home. Mr Evans added: “It’s quite clear that substantial distress was caused to this victim.”

In a victim impact statement, Mrs Bird said police advised she was at “high risk” and to pack a bag to stay with her father.

She said: “I felt after that I had been forced into this situation. Being told I’m a victim of domestic abuse is very difficult since he was my husband of 25 years and I loved and supported him.

“It put me at complete rock bottom. All joy had left me and I felt totally betrayed.” Bird said she has filed for divorce and the court heard she is living elsewhere.

Lian Webster, defending Bird, said the business owner faced “pressures” at work in the run-up to his offences as he had to make staff redundant.

Magistrate Chair Barrie Audus said the domestic abuse was “serious” as he imposed a two-year restraining order.