Frankston man grabbed his wife by throat in fight over her sleeping on couch
A Frankston father of two who pushed his wife into a wall after becoming upset over her sleeping on the couch following an argument has told police she “scratched herself on purpose”. But a magistrate blasted his “very violent” action.
South East
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A husband who grabbed his wife by the throat and pushed her into a wall in a fight over her sleeping on the couch has narrowly escaped jail.
It was only because of Alan Caldicott’s clean criminal record that he managed to stay out of prison.
The Frankston 48-year-old father of two pleaded guilty to one charge of unlawful assault at Frankston Magistrates’ Court yesterday.
The court heard during the evening of December 1 last year Caldicott and his wife had a verbal argument, and she went to sleep on the couch.
This upset him and he began yelling in her face and calling her a liar.
She was fearful that he was going to hurt her, so she stood up and she went to get her car keys. But he grabbed her around the throat and pushed her into a wall.
She managed to escape and left the house, and immediately reported the incident to police.
She received a slight abrasion to her neck.
Police interviewed Caldicott, who admitted pushing his wife but denied he had grabbed her by the throat, saying she “scratched herself on purpose”.
In court his lawyer said he was remorseful, apologetic and deeply ashamed of his “abhorrent” actions on that night.
He said the health regulating agency senior IT worker risked losing his job if he was convicted because he has to undergo working with children checks.
He said the couple were still together, although living apart at the moment, and he was receiving medical treatment and counselling for his anxiety and anger issues.
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Magistrate Charles Tan said grabbing women by the throat was “troubling” behaviour that seemed to be more prevalent in society over the past few years.
He said if Caldicott had any violent history, he would have got an immediate term of imprisonment.
“Grabbing by the throat is very concerning, it is a very, very violent gesture,” Mr Tan said.
“Courts have to deter people from doing that.
“These are serious offences, do this sort of thing and there are consequences.”
Caldicott was convicted and fined $1800.