February 20, 2014


Lord jailed for kicking and punching his wife


THE DUKE of Beaufort’s son Lord Edward Somerset has been jailed for a series of as- saults on his wife over two decades.


Somerset, 55, was sentenced


to two years by a judge at Bristol Crown Court recently after he admitted four counts of causing actual bodily harmto Lady Caroline. After the case Det Sgt Simon Brickwood, from Avon and Somerset Police public pro- tection unit, said: “Domestic abuse affects people of in all walks of life, regardless of their background or personal circumstances. “It is very often a hidden crime with victims unable to speak out and friends and loved ones unaware of what is going on behind closed doors. “In this case, Lord Somerset subjected his wife to a series of violent and aggressive acts which saw her punched and kicked on several occasions, resulting in some permanent injuries.” He added: “I hope victims


of domestic abuse are able to use this successful convic- tion as a catalyst to report offences to us. Don’t endure a life sentence of suffering – pick up the phone and speak to us.” The court heard some of


the attacks, which included him kicking, punching and dragging her by her hair, hap-


Gloucestershire Independent Last orders called as pub loses appeal


REGULARS have lost the fight to save their favourite pub. A campaign was launched


last year to stop the Spa Inn in Oldends Lane, Stonehouse, from being turned into five homes.


An appeal was lodged by the applicant Wadworth Brewery arguing that a decision on the application had not been made within the required time frame. This week a plan- ning inspector allowed the ap- plication to go-ahead.


5


Lord Edward Somerset


pened at the couple’s home on the Badminton estate be- tween 1990 and 2012. A police investigation was launched when she was ad- mitted to hospital in October 2012.


Prosecuting, Rob Allen


said: “On account of her loy- alty to her husband and fam- ily, Lady Caroline suffered in silence for many years.


It took a phone call from concerned medical staff at a Bristol hospital following the most recent incident for the abuse to finally be brought to the attention of the police.” “This case is a reminder


that domestic violence per- meates all sections of our society. It also highlights the devastating consequences


Mixed reaction to newrailway bridge


A NEW footbridge over the railway line in Stroud is nowopen to the public. Network Rail has replaced two pedes- trian crossings, at Downfield Road and Beards Lane, with a new bridge at Cen- tral Road . It is part of Network Rail’s drive to improve safety ahead of the upgrade of the Kemble to Swindon line, which will see the speed and frequency of trains increase. The bridge, which will be used by hun- dreds of pupils from Archway, Marling and Stroud High School, will provide a much safer alternative access.


Patrick Hallgate, route managing di- rector for Network Rail Western, said: “Our focus on level crossings means that our railway is safer than ever be- fore. I thank our local authorities, land- owners and the public for the help they have given us.” The new bridge has not been well re-


cieved by some in Central Road who say they were not properly involved in the consultation process and raised con- cerns about the design of the bridge and the location. Network Rail said privacy screens would mitigate these concerns.


Civil servant is jailed for crash which left a teenager injured


A CIVIL servant who was three times the drink-drive limit when he crashed into a teenage holidaymaker was jailed for two years on Thursday. Divorced father-of-three David Glas- sonbury, 46, failed to negotiate a bend in Frampton on Severn and careered across the road, hitting the youth, Gloucester Crown Court was told. Derk Van Dijk, 17, from Holland, who


was eating a sandwich at the time, was on holiday with his family, who had pulled up in an off road parking area for a picnic by the canal on July 14 last year. Prosecuting,


Julian Kesner said


people heard “terrible screams” as Glassonbury hit Mr Van Dijk, virtu- ally severing his left leg at the ankle. He had undergone several operations and needed muscle and tissue transplanted


to the ankle and calf from his shoulder, the court heard. Glassonbury,


of Mendip Close,


Quedgeley, admitted dangerous driving causing serious injury and driving with excess alcohol. The court heard he had 113 micro-


grams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35 micro- grams.


Glassonbury was banned from driving


for three years as well as being jailed. Judge William Hart said he had taken Glassonbury’s previous good character and long career in the civil service into account but added that he would be fail- ing in his duty if he did not impose a jail sentence. In a victim impact statement, Mr Van Dijk said the injury was still “painful and inconvenient”.


that this type of abuse has on victims and their fami- lies,” he said. William Clegg QC, for Som- erset, said he accepted his serious wrongdoing. Three similar charges


against Somerset dating back to 1988 were left on file and a restraining order ban- ning him from contacting Lady Caroline was imposed.


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