CCTV showed Mansfield man hit his wife after he claimed she tripped and fell

David Wileman had tissues in his hand and his wife's face was covered in blood, when an officer approached them, on November 9, Mansfield Magistrates’ Court heard.

Lynette Holland, prosecuting, said Wileman said they had been drinking after attending a funeral, and she stumbled, fell, and hit her face.

His wife and her mother both agreed that was what happened.

However, when CCTV was reviewed, “it was clear he hit her and she fell to the floor”.

The court heard they were both “heavily intoxicated at the time” and his wife stumbles a lot after suffering a stroke.

Wileman, aged 50, was arrested and charged with assault. His wife did not support the prosecution.

Wileman, of Otter Way, Mansfield, admitted assault.

Morgan Hogarth, mitigating, said he deserved credit for his early guilty plea, and both Wileman, and his wife, confirmed this was the first time violence had happened.

He said Wileman experienced a "gross memory malfunction" when speaking to the officer.

District Judge Gillian Young told him police believed his wife was unconscious for at least a minute, but they could not say if it was because of being struck, or because she was drunk, or her health issues.

She noted he has been out of trouble for a long time and provides support for his wife.

Wileman was handed a 12-month community order with 20 rehabilitation days, fined £300 and ordered to pay a £114 surcharge and £85 costs.