The Magistrate’s Court was told that Ian Couley committed the grave and criminal assault on his wife at their home in May.
St Brelade Centenier Susan Fox told the court that Couley had fallen asleep after eating a takeaway and that when he woke up he went to the garage, where he heard his wife ‘talking quietly’ on the phone.
Suspecting her of having an affair, he banged on the door and when he entered he smashed a lamp.
‘He picked up a bottle and threw it at his wife, causing an injury to her top lip,’ said Mrs Fox.
The court heard that the victim was treated at the Accident and Emergency Department at the Hospital for her injury but did not receive stitches, and her husband was taken in by the police for questioning.
He admitted to them that he had thrown the bottle at his wife and he was charged with grave and criminal assault.
Advocate David Steenson, defending, told the court that the incident happened at a time when Couley’s ‘long and happy’ marriage was coming to an end, which he said had been ‘devastating’ for him.
Assistant Magistrate Peter Harris told Couley that because he had good references and was a first offender, he would not be made to pay a fine, which had been the sentence recommended by the Probation Service.
Instead, he was bound over to be of good behaviour for 12 months.
