Police commissioner not guilty of ‘drunken assaulting’ wife over ’embarrassing’ text messages | British News
A police commissioner has been acquitted of assaulting his wife after they argued over “embarrassing” messages she found on his phone.
Karl Wilson of Northumbria Police has been accused of assaulting his wife Helen at their home in Newcastle last October.
Ms Wilson attended the day-long hearing at North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court but declined to testify.
The allegation that he threw her to the ground and knelt on her chest while playing rugby was denied.
The court heard that Mrs Wilson returned home on the evening of October 28 to find her husband intoxicated.
Concerned about his fidelity, she checked his phone and spotted messages that suggested “her fears were real.”
When Mr Wilson, 49, found out what she was doing, “there was a cell phone argument within the address,” prosecutor Michael Bunch said.
“She ended up running from the address, pursued by the defendant, who knocked her to the ground with a rugby tackle on the way out.”
Ms Wilson called the police but the call was cut off and when 999 operators called back they heard a “series of screams”.
Mr Wilson said he acted in self-defense and “in fact he hugged her until she calmed down”.
“We had an argument over some of the messages on my phone which was extremely embarrassing and quite upsetting for Helen. Something I’m certainly not proud of.’
He admitted he had three tall glasses of wine and was “drunk,” but recalled the entire incident.
District Judge Paul Currer acquitted Mr Wilson of two charges of assault and one charge of damages relating to his wife’s phone, dress and necklace, which were damaged during the conflict.
He said he was pleased Mr Wilson and his wife had difficulty grabbing his phone after a brief scuffle broke out at the bottom of the stairs while he was being taken away.
Judge Currer added, “It’s someone using their rights to protect their own property.”
Contact our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk.
For more stories like this, Check out our news page.