A CLEETHORPES man who held his disabled wife against a hot oven and put his fingers around his throat, has narrowly escaped jail.
Einar Eskeson, 55, of Princes Road, Cleethorpes, admitted assaulting his wife, Lesley Flather – who had a brain tumour and lung cancer – at their then-home in Holton-le-Clay on August 21 last year.
Jim Clare, prosecuting, told Skegness Magistrates Court that the couple had returned to the area from Australia, where they had been living.
The court heard Eskeson had a history of abusing his wife and that it became continually worse, until on August 21 he held her against a hot oven and got more and more angry with her.
Mr Clare told the court Ms Flather then went upstairs but he followed, pushed her back on the bed and put his fingers around her throat.
After the incident he told her he was sorry but asked her not to go to the police, saying: "I'll get 10 years for this."
Mr Clare said there were previous convictions against Eskeson for assaulting the same victim.
After hearing that Ms Flather was prepared to take Eskeson back, District Judge John Stobart told Eskeson that he hoped he would occasionally "think back to this unpleasant state of events because your wife is dependent on you and trusts you".
He said: "You are fortunate she is prepared to try again with you but, if you come back to court again, it is most likely the court will say enough is enough and off to prison you will go."
Eskeson was sentenced to an 18 month community order and ordered to attend a course on building better relationships.
He was also ordered to pay a £20 victim surcharge and £250 in costs.
