Wife suffered near daily abuse during nine months of marriage
A drunken domestic abuser grabbed his new spouse by the ears and hair – and headbutted her in a final act of violence before she snapped and called the police.
Thomas Bailey, 49, of West View, Penshaw, carried out almost daily abuse against the woman during their ninemonth marriage, a court heard.
She did not report his attacks for fear of retaliation, leaving her to “walk on eggshells to try to please him”.
Bailey’s behaviour grew towards a climax when he grabbed her by the wrists and hair and swung her around their home on June 30.
Prosecutor Paul Doney said he headbutted her the next evening, causing immediate swelling.
Even when police responded to her 999 call and saw her injury, she was too worried to confess what had happened, it was said.
It was only after they told her they had arrested him, that she tearfully revealed the truth.
Mr Doney said: “She describes the relationship as toxic and volatile. She had not reported incidents to the police because of what he might do.
“She gets back home after finishing work and found him drunk. He had got a new job. She could tell he was in a mood.
“He grabbed her by the wrist and pulled both of her
ears, causing pain.
“He grabbed her hair and pulled her around the living room. It was not reported to the police.
“The next day, she got ready for work and at 11.30am got a telephone call from him, apologising for the previous
night, and he told her that he loved her.
“She got home at 6.30pm and she found him intoxicatedagain.At9.30pm,shemade a sandwich.”
Mr Doney said Bailey then criticised her appearance, adding: “He rubbed mayo in her face. He headbutted her extremely hard on the forehead, causing swelling and pain.
“He pulled her hair very hard. She threatened to call the police, and he’s called her a grass. The police come about 15 minutes later.
“They ask why she has called them, and she said she'd had rang by mistake and that they had been having an argument.
“The police could see a large swelling on her forehead which was new, and the defendant was arrested.
“When she was told of that, she became tearful and admitted he had attacked her.”
In a statement read to the court, the woman said she had suffered almost daily abuse and violence at Bailey’s hands.
Agency worker Bailey pleaded not guilty to one charge of assault by beating and one of actual bodily harm, but was found guilty after a trial.
Bill Davison, defending, said: “He has not seen the injured party since the date of the offence, which is now seven months. He’s got no intention of calling her, the relationship is over.”
Magistrates handed Bailey a 12-month community order, with a requirement to complete 25 days of rehabilitation work with the Probation Service.
They fined him £412 and he must pay £620 court costs and a £95 victim surcharge – and £150 compensation.
Bailey was also given a 12-month restraining order to stay away from the woman.