Taxi driver assaulted wife after drinking heavily over business woes, court hearsA taxi driver has admitted to assaulting his wife after getting “nine out of 10 drunk” as he bemoaned his struggling business.
Paul O’Donnell, who runs the Sawston Cab Company, pleaded guilty to assault by beating at Cambridge Magistrates’ Court after the offence at his home in Brewery Road, Pampisford, in the early hours of Sunday morning.
The court heard O’Donnell turned up at the Kings Head, Sawston, where the 39-year-old victim worked, at 8pm the previous evening and quickly became very drunk, before setting off for more drinks at the White Lion pub in the village.
Paul Brown, prosecuting, said: “The victim went to bed and didn’t see him again until 2.40am when he entered the house and was very aggressive and angry.”
He added: “She tried to pull him outside but he threw her from the kitchen into the living room – a distance of five metres – and she landed on her tailbone against a coffee table. She blacked out.”
Magistrates also heard the defendant picked up two knives and said he had ‘nothing to live for now’, but was then arrested by police officers who were called.
Catherine Bradd, mitigating, said her client, 35, had “some sort of breakdown”.
She said: “He is a taxi driver and chauffeur but his business is in difficulties. It has been his wife’s money that has supported his failing business and he has substantial debts. He is looking at bankruptcy.
“He drank to excess and said he was nine out of 10 drunk, and recalls little of what happened. He accepts what has been said and is extremely sorry for what he has done.”
O’Donnell also pleaded guilty to assaulting a child on the same date.
Magistrate Rosie Wenham said: “This was a very serious incident that took place at your home over the weekend. We will adjourn the case for a pre-sentence report to be drawn up.”
The defendant was remanded in custody until sentencing in the same court on December 16.
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