Former RNLI lifeboatman Alan Dop was on a luxury Mediterranean cruise with his wife in August last year when he kicked her ‘for no reason’, causing ‘bruising and swelling’
An abusive husband has been sentenced after he kicked his wife “for no reason” during a cruise for their 10th wedding anniversary.
Alan Dop was on a luxury Mediterranean cruise with his wife in August last year when he kicked her, causing “bruising and swelling”, according to prosecutor Elen Owen. The abusive Dop also “grabbed her and shook her and threw her across the room injuring her back”, Ms Owen said. “Because they were on a cruise, she felt unable to seek assistance.”
The attack was witnessed by the couple’s seven-year-old son. Ms Owen said that Dop and the victims had been in a relationship since 2004 and that they had been married for 10 years, sharing one son together.
In the last two years, Dop’s drinking had become a problem and his wife had asked him to leave. Dop, a former RNLI lifeboatman, refused. The victim had described Dop as “extremely abusive towards her in drink”, Caernarfon Crown Court heard.
In an incident at the former couple’s home in Gwynedd some weeks after the cruise, the victim asked Dop to go to another room so he wouldn’t see the poor state he was in. Dop had passed out on the sofa.
After Dop refused, the victim tried to take their child’s iPad with her, but Dop demanded it back and began pushing her. Dop grabbed her bicep, “reddening and bruising”. He also put his forearm against the victim’s neck.
The victim managed to get away and phoned the police. When officers arrived, Dop was nearly five times the legal drink drive limit. From Pwllheli, Dop admitted assault causing actual bodily harm and assault by beating. The court heard that Dop’s abuse had left the victim worried about “all of the things the child has heard”.
After the assault on the cruise, the victim was “very upset” and feeling “isolated” and “trapped”. The following assault in September left the victim feeling “nauseous and shakey, [and] with palpitations”.
Dop blamed the victim, Judge Simon Mills said, following a pre-sentence report. Defending, Amy Edwards said Dop was remorseful and didn’t intend to “minimise” what he had done.
“He has provided help to others,” Ms Edwards said. “He has worked with the RNLI and is somebody who, prior to his difficulties with alcohol, was actively helping others.”
The Probation Service said Dop was showing symptoms of PTSD from what he had seen during his days in the RNLI. Judge Mills sentenced Dop to 12 months, suspended for two years. He said Dop had missed going to jail by a “millimetre”.
He said Dop was “a person of previous good character who has developed an unhealthy relationship with alcohol, to the extent where it is obvious you are an alcoholic”, and added that his attempts to blame the victim were “absolutely disgraceful”. He is now on his “last chance”, the judge said.
Dop was also slapped with a seven-year restraining order to protect the victim. Contact with the child is to be arranged through a third party.
For confidential support, call the 24-hour National Domestic Abuse Freephone Helpline on 0808 2000 247 or visit womensaid.co.uk. If you or your family have lost a friend or family member through fatal domestic abuse, AAFDA (Advocacy After Fatal Domestic Abuse) can offer specialist and expert support and advocacy. For more info visit www.aafda.org.uk
