Tommy Michael Coggins, 80, had been drinking outside the matrimonial home of forty-six years and swore at wife Maureen, 79, before hurling the china plate, which caused a wound needing hospital treatment.
Their marriage is now over and the pensioner is sofa-surfing, with hopes he can join his son in Somerset having been made subject to a five-year restraining order, prohibiting contact with Maureen.
Coggins, of Geoffrey House, Pardoner Street, Southwark fought the charge, but was convicted of inflicting actual bodily harm on March 20.
Prosecutor Colette Hanna told Croydon Magistrates’ Court it was just after 7.00pm when the defendant came back inside the Abbeville Road, Clapham address.
“He was rude to her and called her a: F***ing c***,’ and told her not to look at him, which was a normal occurrence.
“He said: ‘I wouldn’t think twice about murdering you and when his wife said she was going to call the police, he said: ‘F*** the police.’
“Mrs Coggins ran upstairs until he calmed down and when she returned he was holding a white china plate that he threw at her.
“She says he was aiming for her face, but missed and hit her foot, causing a quite deep laceration and a large amount of bleeding.”
Their son witnessed the incident and Maureen shouted: “I can’t take this anymore,” and the police were called.
Throughout the trial Coggins claimed he did not deliberately throw the plate and the injury his wife suffered was an accident and was convicted on the basis his actions were reckless.
Afterwards Mrs Coggins said: “This left me shaken and nervous. I am terrified of my husband, who is an alcoholic that drinks daily and is unpredictable.
“He has hurt me in the past and I genuinely believe Tommy will kill me if he sees me again. I know he will return to the address and I am scared he will hurt me.”
Denying he has an alcohol problem Coggins claims he was verbally abused in the matrimonial home for an hour before the incident and had no intention to hurt his wife.
His lawyer, who refused to give his name, told the court: “This was an impulsive, spontaneous, short-lived assault. A reckless act with no intention to injure.
“There was physical injury, a two centimetre laceration and she did attend hospital.
“The Probation Service says he is not an alcoholic and and he takes five pills a day for medical issues including diabetes and arthritis.
“He does not intend to have anything further to do with his ex-wife.”
Magistrate Karim Hemani announced: “This does pass the custody threshold, however we are going to suspend it.”
Coggins received twenty-four weeks imprisonment, suspended for eighteen months and must comply with a six-month Alcohol Treatment Requirement.
He must observe up to twenty-four days of a recommended activity requirement and was ordered to pay £500 costs, with a £154 victim surcharge and pay his wife £150 compensation.
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