Art Expert Sentenced For Slapping Wife In Front Of Young Kids

A former Christie's art expert, who slapped his wife across the face while driving in busy west London as their two young daughters watched from the rear seat, has escaped custody with a suspended sentence.

Art dealer Damian Brenninkmeyer, 42, is the ex-head of the Old Masters department in Christie's Amsterdam, having been their specialist in New York and also worked at New Bond Street auction house Bonhams and Butterfields.

He was sentenced two four months imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months, and made subject to a six-month restraining order, prohibiting contact with wife Fiona, 40, and visiting the Fulham family home.

He pleaded guilty at Hammersmith Magistrates' Court to assaulting his wife of ten years, Fiona Brenninkmeyer, on July 7, two days after receiving a police caution for throwing water over her.

Brenninkmeyer, who is currently is residing with his father at The Water Gardens, Warren Road, Kingston-upon-Thames, must also attend a domestic violence rehabilitation course and pay £120 costs.

"Slugging his wife across the face while while driving on a busy road with two children in the back is one of the most dangerous things you can do," District Judge Susan Williams told Brenninkmeyer after he admitted the offence. "Things must never come to fisticuffs."

Brenninkmeyer's lawyer Mr. Mark Haslam told the court: "This is a marriage both parties think can be saved and there is an email from his wife to that effect."

Prosecutor Mr. Paul Mitchell previously told the court the family were planning to drive to Mrs Brenninkmeyer's mother's home in Buckinghamshire on that Sunday afternoon.

"Mrs Brenninkmeyer could sense a bad mood and was afraid the defendant would get angry with her, but he assured her everything was going to be okay.

"They were driving along Fulham Palace Road when the defendant became aggressive and started shouting: 'I want to punish you for what you did to me'."

The court heard Brenninkmeyer was still angry with his wife for calling the police two days earlier and told her: "I'm going to break your phone and tell the accountant not to allow you to have another.

"She said: 'Please calm down for the kids', but he started to bash his fists on the steering wheel while they were still moving," explained Mr. Mitchell.

"He then back-hand hit her across the right side of her face.

"He was driving erratically so she decided to call the police and grabbed her phone, but Mr. Brenninkmeyer grabbed her hand, clawing at her hand.

"He gave up, but grabbed her sunglasses from her lap and threw them out of the window.

"The right side of her face was throbbing and she could see bruising as the journey continued and at Beaconsfield Services she took the two girls into a service area and cried.

"Mr. Brenninkmeyer said: 'Why don't you get back in the car? You're causing a scene'."

There was another row back at the family home that night when Brenninkmeyer discovered his wife had taken money from their joint account to pay a cleaner and he pushed her down onto a sofa.

The court heard Brenninkmeyer has been undergoing treatment for anxiety.