A South Yorkshire thug who attacked his wife is spared from jail thanks to her plea for mercy

Sheffield Crown Court heard on March 18 how Andrew Hartley, aged 41, of Albany Road, Wombwell, Barnsley, became paranoid and violent towards his wife of 20 years during November and December, 2020, after he started taking cocaine.

Benn Robinson, defending, said: “Within those 20 years he’s been a loving husband and very supportive father to the three children and he’s been reliable and unfortunately in October, last year, he made the mistake of getting involved with cocaine and that seems to be the catalyst for the two months that follow.”

Prosecuting barrister Eddison Flint said Hartley demanded to check his wife’s devices when he accused her of going on gambling sites and building up debt.

Hartley also accused his wife of seeing someone behind his back, he smashed her phone and grabbed her by the throat, according to Mr Flint.

And in another incident, Mr Flint said Hartley struck her to the face and grabbed her around the neck and hair and later spat in her face twice.

Mr Flint added Hartley also struck his wife with the handlebar from a children’s scooter and as he threatened to leave he grabbed her by the throat and hit her in the face.

The defendant also sent messages to his wife accusing her of seeing a Russian man, according to Mr Flint, and sent disturbing messages to their children.

Hartley, who has previous convictions, pleaded guilty to coercive and controlling behaviour and to assault occasioning actual bodily harm.

His wife stated her life had been turned upside down but she revealed Hartley’s behaviour has improved and he is engaging with the support services and she urged the court not to send him to prison because it would not help her family.

Recorder Darren Preston told Hartley: “She has saved you. You need to be eternally grateful to her for the rest of your life.”

He sentenced Hartley to 13 months of custody suspended for two years with a Rehabilitation Activity Requirement and a four-month curfew.

A message from the Editor:

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to The Star website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content.

Visit https://www.thestar.co.uk/subscriptions now to sign up.

Our journalism costs money and we rely on advertising, print and digital revenues to help to support them. By supporting us, we are able to support you in providing trusted, fact-checked content for this website.

Thank you

Nancy Fielder, editor