An offshore worker who broke his wife's nose, put his hands around her neck and hit her on the head during a series of alcohol-fuelled attacks has been handed a suspended prison sentence. Ronald Gibbins, 62, of Carville Gardens, Wallsend, pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm, intentional strangulation and two counts of assault by beating.
Attacks in the family home
Newcastle Crown Court heard that Gibbins and the victim had been in a relationship between 2002 and 2012 and again from 2017. The first attack happened in 2022, weeks after they were married, when Gibbins punched the victim once to the face, leaving her needing hospital treatment for a broken nose.
The woman decided not to make a statement against him, and they continued to live together in North Tyneside. However, earlier this year, again fuelled by alcohol, Gibbins turned violent once more.
Strangulation and further assault
Prosecutor Jasmine Dodd said that in July, at the home the couple shared, Gibbins, while very intoxicated, put both hands around his wife's neck and squeezed for 15 seconds. The woman described struggling to breathe and feeling like she was going to lose consciousness.
She managed to push Gibbins off, but he retaliated by shoving her into a set of golf clubs, then pushing her out of the house and locking the door. The woman suffered bruising to her arms, back and hip and reddening to her neck.
Less than a month later, on August 20, Gibbins again assaulted his wife, striking her five or six times over the head with an open palm as she lay on the sofa. This time, the victim contacted domestic abuse advisors, and Gibbins was arrested.
Remorse and sentencing
Gibbins, who earns up to £1,500 a week, immediately appeared remorseful and told police everything he had done during interview. In a statement, the victim said: "This is the first time in my life, since being with Ronald, that I feel safer knowing he's not allowed to contact me or come to my house. He needs help with his anger and alcohol issues as this is the main cause of his behaviour."
Mian Nath, defending, said Gibbins had been honest with police but claimed he hadn't meant to punch his wife in the first attack and had intended to "scare her". Ms Nath added: "He's highly ashamed and remorseful. These were not just words, they were translated into a high level of insight and, more importantly, translated into his guilty pleas."
The court heard Gibbins spent three weeks at a time sober while working offshore, then drank when he returned home. Ms Nath said Gibbins had sought help and was now not drinking alcohol at all.
Recorder Georgina Nolan said Gibbins was clearly supportive and well-liked by his family and colleagues and commended him for seeking help with his alcohol use. Gibbins was given an 18-month prison sentence, suspended for two years, ordered to do 80 hours of unpaid work, made subject of a two-year restraining order and must pay £150 costs.
