Company boss assaulted ex-wife at pub 'out of spite'

A COMPANY director has been convicted of assaulting his estranged wife in a busy Burley pub.

Simon Hawtrey-Coombs had also sent her abusive text messages prior to the incident at the White Buck.

Southampton Magistrates’ Court was told Hawtrey-Coombs (52) became agitated on the evening of 12th March this year when he saw his ex-wife Gemma eating at the pub, which he regularly visited.

Prosecutor Rhys Evans said Mrs Hawtrey-Coombs had gone to the White Buck that evening for a drink with her younger sister.

She stayed on after her sister left and was invited to have a meal with a group of four acquaintances that included Nicola Cook and her husband John.

During that meal, Mr Evans explained, Hawtrey-Coombs sent her a text about her boots.

Mr Evans said that he subsequently went over to her, slapped her on the back and made an unpleasant comment about her before leaving the bar.

Giving evidence, Mrs Cook said she heard the comment, adding: “Then he slapped her between the shoulder blades – she went forward.”

Mr Cook said she had been “thumped” and he was left in “shock and surprise” at the incident. He made after the defendant to remonstrate with him but Hawtrey-Coombs had left before he could do so.

The victim, who gave evidence under her maiden name of Gemma Freeman, added: “I was in shock. I just couldn’t believe it.”

She said the contact made her back “tingle” but did not leave an injury.

But giving evidence, Hawtrey-Coombs, who gave his address as Marina Close, Boscombe, denied he had made any sort of contact with her.

He insisted that when he went into the White Buck and saw her there he purposely sat far away from her to be “inoffensive” but conceded he was “frustrated” and “surprised” at the time.

Hawtrey-Coombs said he did send a text about her boots and when he approached her table, he made a “regrettable” comment that could be overheard.

He told the court they had been married since 2014, having met 13 years previously. He admitted their divorce was “acrimonious”, but denied claims by the prosecutor he had acted out of “bitterness and spite”.

He added that he had worked in logistics for 20 years and was a franchisee who was in charge of more than 100 employees.

Ruling that Hawtrey-Coombs was guilty of assault by beating, Judge Peter Greenfield described Mr and Mrs Cook as “compelling witnesses”.

Prior to the trial Hawtrey-Coombs pleaded guilty to two charges of harassment without violence against his ex-wife between 17th February and 14th March, and 23rd June and 23rd July this year when he sent her abusive texts.

Judge Greenfield adjourned sentencing for a probation report and granted Hawtrey-Coombs unconditional bail to return on 27th January.