Millionaire throttled his girlfriend with a towel
Doddy tickled pink to get knighthood ‘Donuts’ Donaldson faces prison after admitting 9 years of domestic abuse
WHAT a wonderful day to be given a knighthood.
Veteran entertainer Ken Dodd, 89, was yesterday given the honour in recognition of his showbusiness career and charity work.
The Liverpudlian, who is still touring at the age of 89, MILLIONAIRE tycoon Frankie “Donuts” Donaldson faces jail for a catalogue of vicious attacks on his partner.
The 58-year-old admitted domestically abusing Jane Clarke over a nine-year period.
On one occasion, Donaldson throttled her with a wet towel. He also threw a dumbbell at her, but it hit a wall.
During another attack, a child in the house hit Donaldson with a lamp in a bid stop him smacking Jane on the face with a car key.
The thug also punched Jane’s sister Elizabeth Harrison and threw her out of their house.
On a later date, Donaldson threatened to throw Elizabeth out of a first-floor window.
At Glasgow Sheriff Court yesterday, Donaldson pled guilty to nine charges of assault.
Seven attacks on Jane was knighted by Prince William at Buckingham Palace.
Doddy said: “I’m delighted and highly tickled.”
Olympic gold medalwinning boxer Nicola Adams, 34, was made an OBE. happened between January 2005 and June 2013. The other two charges related to assaults on Elizabeth in March 2001 and October 2004.
Procurator fiscal depute Harry Findlay told the court Donaldson was reported to police in 2013. A subsequent investigation revealed years of violence.
The tycoon and Jane were together for 22 years.
The first attack was in Chryston, near Glasgow, between 2005 and 2006 when Donaldson had just got out of the shower.
Findlay said: “He had in his hand a wet towel and struck Miss Clarke on the body with it. The accused then wrapped the towel round Miss Clarke’s neck and pulled it tight, such that it restricted her breathing.”
The court heard of another attack between 2009 and 2010 at the couple’s house in Torrance, Dunbartonshire.
Findlay said: “She recalls ending up on the floor and the accused straddling her. Donaldson repeatedly struck her on the head with a key, causing a small cut.”
A child in the house was “concerned” and “struck the accused with a lamp”.
The court also heard about an incident in May 2011 when Donaldson punched Jane on the head and body.
On other occasions, she was pulled from a bed, held by the throat, pulled by the ears and hit with a phone and remote control.
Last year, Donaldson started proceedings to sue Jane for £1million relating to a chain of nurseries. He claimed he helped fund the business Hyde ’n’ Seek when it started in 2001 and was owed money.
But the case was brought to an end and the matter resolved.
Donaldson, whose address was given as care of a property in Possilpark, Glasgow, will be sentenced for the attacks later.