Jealous husband sent slew of messages and tore up wife's dresses

'A jealous husband ripped up his wife's dresses in a booze-fuelled fit of rage after accusing her of having an affair. Nick Owen sent a string of abusive messages to his spouse of 12 years while she was out with her friends, Warrington Magistrates' Court heard.

He then raided his wife's wardrobe and trashed her outfits. The 39-year-old, had accused his now-estranged partner of having an affair with a work colleague.

Michael O'Kane, prosecuting, told the court father-of-two Owen had told his wife on December 1: "No way are you seeing someone from work. I am done, you lying b******."

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Mr O'Kane said Mrs Owen received 'accusatory' messages while she was with friends in Stockton Heath, Warrington, before her husband 'referred to a particular male'. Mr O'Kane said she replied to him: "Don't be stupid, I am with a lot of people."

The court heard Owen said he was 'going for him' and added: "I do not care. I will be with you. Are you still in the ‘Mull’? It doesn't matter, I will find you."

Owen then turned up unexpectedly at a pub where Mrs Owen was socialising with work colleagues. The court heard how she fled with a friend, with the plan to go home. As she arrived, she found Owen with the couple's son and daughter, aged 16 and 12.

In subsequent WhatsApp and text messages to her, he said: ''Answer the phone. You have abandoned your children and you are seeing that bloke. If you do not answer I am going to your mum’s and punch the f*** out of your dad.''

Mr O'Kane said the messages left Mrs Owen 'worried'. Other messages from Owen included ‘where the f*** are you?’, ‘I am done’, ‘I have had enough’, ‘I have texted the kids’, ‘I am sorry,’ and ‘goodbye', the court heard.

Mrs Owen ended up staying with her sister, but returned to her home in Warrington to find dresses worth a total of £460 had been destroyed. Mrs Owen initially asked for a restraining order against her estranged husband, but changed her mind for the sake of the children.

The court heard the couple had stated dating in 2004 and married in 2011, but their relationship began to deteriorate in 2019 due to Owen's abuse of alcohol which was said to trigger outbursts of jealousy. They eventually split up in August last year.

Owen, who has previous convictions for drink driving and criminal damage, pleaded guilty to harassment and criminal damage. Appearing in court unrepresented, he accepted the facts of the case and said he still sees the children at least three times a week, taking one of them to watch football. “I work with my son,” he added. “He has just got an apprenticeship.”

Owen, of Orford, Warrington, was ordered to complete 120 hours unpaid work and pay £460 in compensation for the dresses. He was also sentenced to a 12-month community order with requirements he complete 25 days of rehabilitation activity. He was also ordered to pay £274 in costs and surcharge.

Magistrate Alan Davies said: “We have listened very carefully to what has been said and we would like to follow the recommendation of the probation report. We have taken into consideration your prompt guilty plea but we have also taken into account a domestic situation.”