TV auctioneer's alleged headlock was 'loving hug'

Television auctioneer Charles Hanson told police an alleged headlock he held his pregnant wife in was a "loving" hug, a court has heard.

The 46-year-old is on trial at Derby Crown Court charged with controlling or coercive behaviour, assault occasioning actual bodily harm and assault by beating.

He is accused of using violence against his wife Rebecca Hanson over a 10-year period.

The jury was told Mr Hanson said during a police interview that Mrs Hanson was a "fantasist" who "can exaggerate things".

Mr Hanson, of Ashbourne Road in Mackworth, Derby, was arrested at his home on 14 June 2023.

His wife has told the jury Mr Hanson first became violent in 2012 when he allegedly held her in a headlock during an argument while she was pregnant.

A police interview with Mr Hanson, given shortly after his arrest, was read to the court on Wednesday.

The jury heard he told police that during this alleged incident, Mrs Hanson "completely went wild" and he was trying to be "warm and lovely" when he gave her a hug.

Stephen Kemp, prosecuting, read Mr Hanson's interview in which he said: "She had a massive bender, just completely went wild. She has these now and again.

"I said 'everything is OK, come here love, give us a big squeeze'.

"I held her really tight. She took it the wrong way. I think at the time Rebecca took offence.

"Rebecca can be a fantasist, she can exaggerate things, everything is exaggerated beyond reasonable belief - I believe that is the case with this hug.

"I squeezed her in a loving way, it was not forceful. It was not me going over forcibly, it was a hug.

"I squeezed her into me and that's what it was. It was not aggressive, it was not a grab, just focused on being warm and lovely."

He also said in the interview that his wife's "abusive" behaviour had left him in tears.

He told police his wife had a tendency for "meltdowns" and had "mood swings", the court heard.

On 1 May 2023, it is alleged Mr Hanson pushed his wife twice in their bedroom after she swore at him.

He told the police in the interview she had been "waving her arms around" and swearing, and he just gave her a "tiny prod", the jury heard.

"I did not push her back on the bed, I said 'stop it' and walked out. Rebecca gets more upset I think by raised voices," he said.

Mrs Hanson had also told the jury there was an occasion, in May 2021, when her husband "threatened to put embers from the fire" on her.

When asked by police about the allegation, Mr Hanson said: "I have never said that."

He added: "I'm not a violent guy, I'm not someone who can't control my anger. What you are being told is factually far from the case and that upsets me a lot."

The court heard that Mrs Hanson sent her husband a message in May 2023, which said "don't chuck your wife around", to which he replied: "I won't ever again."

When asked why he responded in that way during a second police interview in November that year, the jury was told that he said: "I think it is just, again, in response to keeping the peace with her. I have never chucked my wife around ever."

The trial continues.

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