Man’s ‘life ruined’ after hitting wife (From Craven Herald)

Man’s ‘life ruined’ after hitting wife

12:00pm Tuesday 7th August 2012 in News By Lesley Tate, Senior Reporter

A man who attacked his wife during a canal boat holiday in Skipton has been ordered to carry out unpaid work.

Colin Bardsley, 46, had been enjoying a holiday on the Leeds and Liverpool Canal with his wife, Elaine, and stepson, Skipton magistrates heard on Friday.

But it all went wrong when Bardsley told his wife he no longer loved her.

The couple, who had been married for a year, but been together for five, had both been drinking in a pub in Kildwick on June 5 when they had started discussing the state of their relationship.

Bardsley had been keeping health concerns from his wife and instead of discussing them, he told her he no longer loved her, the court heard.

They argued and continued to argue once they returned to their narrowboat, the court was told.

Mrs Bardsley was hit in the face and her husband tried to force his wedding ring into her mouth after she told him he would die a lonely and sad man.

Her son tried to protect his mother and was also hit. Both suffered bruising.

Bardsley, who admitted two assaults by beating at an earlier hearing, had effectively ruined his life, the court was told.

In mitigation, Maria Temko said Bardsley regretted not sharing his health concerns with his wife and had not been telling the truth when he had said he did not love her.

“This is a good man where things have gone seriously wrong for him,” she said.

Bardsley, of Winchester Drive, Stockport, was given a 12-month community order with 120 hours unpaid work.

He was also ordered to pay a total of £150 compensation to Mrs Bardsley and her son and £85 costs. Magistrates also imposed a restraining order on Bardsley banning him from contacting his wife or approaching her for 12 months, unless through a solicitor.