A WOMAN attacked her disabled husband — by tipping him out of his wheelchair and standing on his spine.

Claire Browne, 36, admitted assault occasioning actual bodily harm on James Browne, 70, when she appeared at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on Tuesday.

Browne cried as she was remanded into custody to await sentencing at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on October 11.

Prosecutor Ann Smout said the assault happened at the couple's home on Station Avenue, Sandown, on September 7.

Following a night at the pub, Browne and her husband started arguing.

Mrs Smout said: "Browne started slapping her husband on the head before tipping him out of his wheelchair.

"She then proceeded to kick him in the chest and testicles as well as standing on his spine.

"She attacked him again as he attempted to crawl back to his wheelchair. "After a sudden shift in mood she then began cradling his head and stroking his hair as she said 'you know what you are like.'

"She then left the property, leaving him on the kitchen floor. This was a sustained assault."

The court heard that Mr Browne was in ill health, suffering with a crumbling spine and throat cancer.

Since the attack, Browne breached her bail conditions three times, by twice going back to the address and once trying to phone her husband.

For Browne, Oscar Vincent, said she had not understood how the bail system works.

She had gone home to check her dog, as her husband wasn't able to give it the exercise it needed.

Mr Vincent said: "On top of everything, she is a member of staff at a hotel in Sandown where she was arrested very publicly by uniformed officers in front of her employers."

Browne was also charged with possession of cocaine and breaching bail conditions.

 

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