Published at 16:42, Tuesday, 12 February 2013

A DRUNK man who racially abused his wife before hitting her around the head with a mobile phone has been given a community order.

Kevin Turner, 52, of Ainslie Street, Barrow, pleaded guilty to assault on January 29, but sentencing was adjourned until Thursday while a pre-sentence report was prepared.

Furness Magistrates’ Court heard how on Friday, December 28, Turner had been drinking all day with his wife at their home.

Mr John Appleby, prosecuting, said Turner and the victim Pamla Turner, had been watching TV and things had been amicable.

The court heard how Turner had drunk around five litres of cider up until that point, but carried on drinking for some time after his wife went to bed.

Mr Appleby told the court: “Matters deteriorated when he came upstairs into the bedroom.

“He began being verbally abusive towards her.”

The court had been told that Mrs Turner had an Indian father, but described herself as a white, British woman.

At a previous hearing, magistrates were told how Turner accused his wife of sleeping with a “Paki” and was pleased they lost their own baby as it would have “come out with a red spot on its head”.

Mr Appleby told the court how she was extremely upset by the comments and decided to go downstairs and sleep on the couch.

However, she returned some time later because “she didn’t see why she should have to sleep downstairs because of his mood”.

Magistrates were told how she found Turner claiming he was on the phone to the police, before smashing his head against a mirror.

He then struck her around the head twice with his mobile phone.

Lead magistrate Mrs Sharron Gillam sentenced Turner to a 24 month community order, including a six months alcohol treatment.

She also ordered him to pay £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.

Published by http://www.nwemail.co.uk