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A man from Pendle who pushed his wife over in an alcohol-fuelled row has been handed a restraining order. Paul Schofield, 47, admitted one count of assault occasioning actual bodily harm, but claimed his actions last October were self-defence, a court has heard.
Schofield, of Colne Road, Barnoldswick, admitted he had grabbed his wife's arms to push her off him during an argument, but had used excessive force, causing her to hit her head and knee.
Earlier on in the night, the defendant's friend had witnessed him being 'frosty' with his wife, and shouts could be heard in the background of phone calls made in the house that night, Preston Crown Court heard.
The court heard how they had both been drinking at the time of the incident, and after the victim called her friend to say a pre-arranged codeword, police arrived to find the woman with bruises and grazes.
In the victim impact statement, she said: "I felt like I had been in a bad car crash. My mental health has been severely and negatively affected by this relationship, I have been attending counselling, I can't sleep and I am terrified of meeting him face-to-face."
The pair admitted that they had both increased their alcohol consumption due to financial pressures, and they recognised the impact this had on the relationship, causing Schofield to have an alcohol detox in the aftermath.
They have been in a relationship for 20 years, getting married in 2008, and share five children aged between five and 18, the court heard.
In mitigation, the court heard Schofield was deeply ashamed by his actions which were "at odds with his character". Friends called him an "upstanding family man" and an "utterly devoted father".
He has since abstained from alcohol which has "transformed his mental and physical health", admitting that if he had started his detox a few weeks before, the incident would have never taken place.
Recorder C Deane said: "On the night you had been drinking, she had been out and had come home.
"In the house were your children and other children having a sleepover, you spent time with your friend who observed your frosty behaviour, he was concerned about your demeanour.
"I accept there was an argument between you and she came at you, and in an act of excessive self-defence you pushed her, causing her to hit her head and knee. She describes how her mental health has been negatively affected."
Schofield was handed a community order, requiring him to carry out 150 hours of unpaid work over the next 12 months, as well as a five-year restraining order. He will also be subject to rehabilitation requirements.
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