Alcoholic who drank litre of vodka and tried to attack wife after she took car keys from him at their home in Dartford
14:00, 11 March 2023
An alcoholic who drank a litre bottle of vodka in his bed and tried to attack his wife, has been ordered to complete rehabilitation sessions.
Paul Wheeler was asked to leave the home in Dartford after his partner became sick of his drinking and behaviour and hid his car keys from him.
However, the 43-year-old flew into a rage and became aggressive and rude and demanded she hand back the vehicle's keys to him.
He also raised his fist at the woman as if he was going to hit her in the face and she feared she would be attacked.
Wheeler also threatened to smash up her home, so his wife called the police for help.
Officers arrived and started to arrest Wheeler for common assault but he began to protest and a scuffle broke out. He started shouting and swearing at officers
Wheeler, now of Victoria Grove, Folkestone, was later charged with common assault and threatening behaviour in relation to the shouting and swearing at PC James Weston and admitted both offences when he appeared before magistrates in Medway on January 18.
The court heard the incidents happened on August 13 last year.
At the time, Terry Knox prosecuting said: "She hid the keys from him and asked him to leave the home.
"He became aggressive and rude and raised his fist at her as if he was going to smash her face in. She feared an assault and her daughter was present. He also made threats to smash up the home.
"She called the police for assistance and when an officer attended to arrest him for common assault and put him in handcuffs, he tried to headbutt the officer and shouted and swore at him telling him to get his f****** hands off him."
The court also heard the couple had been together for 15 years and had two children together, but Wheeler had become disabled by alcoholism and his wife had come to the end of her tether with his behaviour.
Magistrates were also told Wheeler feels terrible about the incident and is aware he becomes aggressive after drinking vodka and was now working with a wellbeing service to address his alcoholism.
The bench decided to adjourn sentencing and ask for a pre-sentencing report to be carried out on Wheeler and he returned to the court on February 28 to hear his fate.
Magistrates placed him on an 18 month community order which will see him complete 30 rehabilitation sessions with probation.
He was also ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £114 and £85 costs.
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