A HUSBAND who hit his wife with a plate because of the way she served his meatballs and mashed potato has been ordered to take marriage lessons.

Martin Butterworth, prosecuting, said Lesley MacKay had blood running from a cut on her face when police arrived at the marital home in response to her 999 call on May 5.

Her husband Alexander Murdo MacKay, 62, told them he had thrown the plate with the food on it because she had not separated the meatballs from the mashed potatoes in his dinner and the two foods had mixed.

 

York Press:

He also told them he had drunk three litres of white wine earlier that day.

Mrs MacKay declined to give a police statement but her husband was still prosecuted.

Magistrates heard police had been called out on a previous occasion to the home some years earlier and the couple had been married for 32 years.

Senior magistrate Margaret Scott, sitting with two colleagues, told the husband: “It is fortunate she was not badly hurt.

“Whilst she is at home, she has the right to expect good behaviour from you and trust from you.”

MacKay, of Bull Lane, Heworth, pleaded guilty to assault and was given a 12-month community order including 40 days’ rehabilitative activities which is expected to include lessons on how to behave towards his spouse and how to control his temper.

He was also ordered to pay £85 prosecution costs and an £85 statutory surcharge.

For him, Harry Bayman said he had epilepsy and osteoporosis, for which he took prescription drugs.

“He knows he shouldn’t be drinking to excess with his medication,” the solicitor said.

“There was no good reason for him to lose his temper. It was a momentary thing. He lashed out by throwing a plate across the room, and unfortunately, hit his wife.”

The husband had seen his GP for help with anger management. He was also supported by a local rehabilitative organisation.