Teenage father assaulted wife, 16, on Lache field

Dec 10 2008 by Laurie Stocks-Moore, Chester Chronicle

A TEENAGE father was ordered to attend a domestic violence programme after pushing his 16-year-old wife to the floor.

Eighteen-year-old Tony John Kenneth Harris, of Clover Lane, Chester assaulted wife Maria Harris on Cliveden Road field, Lache on September 20 this year.

The pair, who have a young son together, had separated four weeks before the incident.

At Chester Magistrates Court on Wednesday, prosecutor Sarah Gray said Mrs Harris had been in an off licence on Cliveden Road with friends. Mr Harris saw them and heard they were going to the home of another friend, Michael Halls.

Later that night, Tony Harris, Maria Harris and Mr Halls and others were gathered on the field at Cliveden Road.

Miss Gray added: “The defendant dragged her by the hair and pulled her to the ground.”

When Michael Halls tried to separate them, Harris turned and punched him in the face.

Ashley Barnes, defending, said: “The defendant is fully remorseful, he realises there’s a problem. He realises there is work to be done.”

Chair Susan Campbell ordered Harris to complete a 24 month supervision order and to attend 27 two hour domestic violence programme sessions.