Calne
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Man set free after drunken row
A man who dragged his wife to the ground following a drunken row and kicked her while she was down has walked free from court.
Clive Cotton left his victim with facial injuries when he set about her after they had spent the day at a wedding reception.
But after hearing how the couple were reconciled a judge at Swindon crown court decided to pass a community order on the 37-year-old.
Marion Langford, prosecuting, said on Saturday September 8 last year Cotton and wife Caroline had been to the wedding and were both drinking.
In the early hours of the following morning they got home and were arguing about something that happened at the reception.
She said Cotton was being "foul mouthed" to his wife and she slapped him across the face and then threw some water at him after he followed and continued abusing her.
He then threw her to the floor and began punching her to the face and body before kicking her repeatedly to the body while she was on the floor.
Cotton then smashed a kitchen chair against her car and caused damage to the living room including the TV cabinet and a kettle.
As a result of the attack Mrs Cotton suffered a bruised and swollen cheekbone, a red weeping eye as well as other cuts and bruises.
When he was questioned by the police Cotton said he was very drunk and could recall causing the damage but not attacking his wife.
Cotton, of Woodhill Avenue, Calne, pleaded guilty to actual bodily harm and criminal damage.
The court was told there had been a background of domestic violence though Cotton had not been convicted of any offences against his wife.
He did have previous convictions for assault, criminal damage and being drunk and disorderly.
Alex Daymond, defending, said his client's wife had felt the enforced separation while he was on bail had a detrimental affect and they were hoping for a full reconciliation.
There are problems with alcohol, he said, which led to him not remembering the violence.
He said Cotton had expressed remorse for what he had done and offers no excuse for his behaviour.
Cotton also has a strong work ethic, he said, and the family would suffer financially were he jailed.
Passing sentence judge Douglas Field said "The court has this dilemma in domestic abuse cases: does the court say the family is better being reunited, when there is a risk of this happening again."
He imposed a three year community order and told Cotton to go on a domestic violence programme and receive alcohol treatment as well as paying £200 costs.
"This is a chance for you to do something to sort these problems out for the benefit of the whole of your family," he said.
8:19am Monday 4th February 2008
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