I AM SO SORRY
❒ Former Kasabian frontman admits throwing girlfriend across room in drunken rage ❒ Judge spares him jail term as ex-partner says she wants him to get the help he needs
FORMER Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan yesterday pleaded guilty to assaulting his girlfriend, writes Ciaran Fagan.
The 39-year-old was “heavily intoxicated” when he threw her across a room at their home.
The singer, who announced he was leaving the band on Monday, appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court to plead guilty and apologise.
The judge told Meighan he could have jailed him, but had taken into account his guilty plea and expressions of remorse.
FORMER Kasabian frontman Tom Meighan has lost his chance of performing with “the band and the people he loves” after launching a drunken attack on his partner, a court heard yesterday.
Despite only recently undergoing treatment for alcohol misuse, the 39-year-old was “heavily intoxicated” when he assaulted his partner at their Leicestershire home earlier this year.
He was also “aggressive” and “resistant” towards the Leicestershire Police officers who arrived at the house to investigate a report that he was attacking his partner.
They said the singer’s eyes were red and his speech was slurred at the time.
The victim was on the floor a couple of feet away from Meighan, and was “visibly upset and shaking”, according to the officers.
Police said she had an injury to her head.
The couple have been together for four years and she is determined they should restore their relationship. He, the court heard, is “remorseful” and is seeking further professional help for his addiction to alcohol.
Police had been called to the house in response to a 999 call from a “panicked and afraid” child who was present when Meighan turned on her on the evening of Saturday, April 4.
Meighan appeared at Leicester Magistrates’ Court yesterday to admit a single charge of assault by beating.
The founding member of the band admitted pushing and dragging his partner around their home and back garden.
Much of the incident was captured on two security cameras.
Prosecutor
Naeem Valli told the court: “The child contacted 999 to report there was a domestic incident taking place.
“During the call she sounds panicked and afraid, telling the operator she does not feel safe.
“She describes the defendant as being intoxicated and says she had tried to intervene.
“During the call she goes on to say she can hear the defendant shouting ‘slag.’
“Officers arrive at 8.45pm. They hear a female shouting ‘get off me, get off me.’
“As they approach they find the victim on the floor, partially clothed and voicing concern she may have hurt her ankle.”
Her injuries included swelling, bruises and grazes.
Mr Valli continued: “There was a visible injury to her head and officers describe her as being visibly upset and shaking.
“The defendant was sitting 2ft away from her. His eyes were red and he was slurring his speech. He was heavily intoxicated. “When he was being arrested he became resistant and argumentative.
“Due to his behaviour and because he was becoming more aggressive, a van had to be called to transport him to the station.” Meanwhile, officers were told about the security cameras and obtained the footage.
Mr Valli said that, once in custody, Meighan told officers he and his partner had been in a relationship for four years and “had bickered a lot”.
“He initially said there was no incident,” Mr Valli said.
However, on being shown the footage from the two cameras, Meighan admitted he had thrown the victim across the room “in a rage”, Mr Valli said.
“He said he could not watch the footage because he said it was horrible and he could not bear to watch it.
“He admitted being intoxicated and could not remember the incident taking place.”
Michelle Heeley QC, representing Meighan, said her client was deeply remorseful.
She said: “It is a personal humiliation, but he has nobody to blame but himself for that.
“He offers to his partner and the wider public his sincere apologies.
“He had been involved in a battle with alcohol and had returned from a period in rehabilitation, but succumbed and began drinking again.
“It is clear that on this day he and his partner had been drinking and an argument developed and they lost their temper with one and other.
“(He) should have walked away and it is to his great shame that he acted in the way he did. It was deeply traumatic to have to witness himself behaving in that way and it is that shame that has spurred him on to seek further professional help.”
Ms Heeley said he was now “clean and sober”.
She added:” There is not only genuine remorse, but also a genuine determination to address his addiction and his offending behaviour.”
Ms Heeley said a letter to the court from the partner said the attack was an “isolated incident”.
She said: “Character references talk of an exemplary person and of his charity work and the way he engages with friends.
“He has been separated from his partner, despite her wish to be together and to restore their relationship.
“Professionally this has had a profound impact. The band (he) formed while still a teenager has split up.
“Music has been a great passion in his life and to now lose the opportunity to perform with the band he loves and with the people he loves is a huge personal loss - which he accepts is wholly of his own making.
“Punishment comes in many forms, not just from the court but also public opinion.”
Meighan was ordered to carry out 200 hours of community service – once coronavirus lockdown restrictions are lifted.
He was ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £90 and prosecution costs of £85.
However, he was not ordered to pay compensation to his victim.
District judge Nick Watson said she had indicated she wanted him to get help with his alcohol troubles and to save their relationship.
Mr Watson said: “She wants you to get the help you need.
“I’ve been told you recognise you have a problem with alcohol and I have read the reports of the efforts you have taken to address your drinking.
“I’m told you have detoxified at a specialist facility.
“Probation say you are unlikely to offend if you remain abstinent.”
The singer and his bandmates had released short statements yesterday to confirm his departure.
The band said: “Tom Meighan is stepping down from Kasabian by mutual consent.
“Tom has struggled with personal issues that have affected his behaviour for quite some time and now wants to concentrate his energies on getting his life back on track. We will not be commenting further.”
Punishment comes in many forms, not just from the court but also public opinion
Michelle Heeley, mitigating