Husband Beats Bride On Their Wedding Night Because He Couldn’t Get Her Dress Off

New bride, Amy Dawson, 22, who married her long term partner, Gavin Golightly in a dream wedding in August last year was viciously assaulted by her groom on their wedding night because he couldn’t take her dress off.

Mirror UK reports;

The newlyweds retired to their room after a reception with friends and family following the party at a country hotel.

It was then, only hours after making their marriage vows, that 29-year-old Golightly launched a terrifying attack on his bride when she asked for help in taking her wedding dress off.

The argument broke out after he was unable to help her out of the dress, and he then threw her to the floor before launching the attack that left her with a cut eyebrow and a bruised face and chest.

Golightly claimed that he had been drugged before the attack and could not remember any of the incident, but he later admitted a single count of assault causing actual bodily harm at Peterlee Magistrates Court.

He was handed a community order for the outburst, but Amy, who has a child with Golightly, said the punishment was not harsh enough.

Amy said: “When I first met Gavin, he was lovely, I couldn’t fault him. He was caring and loving, and when we found we were having baby, we were delighted. I fell pregnant after eight months, but almost straight away, Gavin became controlling and manipulative. It was like walking on eggshells. When he lashed out at me on my wedding night, I thought I was going to die. I was terrifed. He looked like he was going to kill me. After the attack, he left the room and I tried to escape, but he came back in and continued to beat me. Eventually, I escaped and found a hotel porter, who called the police. It was such a lovely day, and I was devastated it ended the way it did. It was a huge celebration full of friends and family, and I thought it would have been the fresh start we needed. The community order was far too soft. The restraining order is the only thing keeping me strong. He means nothing to me now.”

The former sweethearts married at St Mary’s Church in West Rainton, County Durham before moving on to Beamish Hall for their party, which turned out to be the settingfor the horrifying attack.

Amy, an accountancy student, has since filed for divorce.

Prosecutor Sarah Traynor said: “At 12.55am, the following morning, they went to their room, which she was helped towards by a night porter. The defendant then tried to undo Ms Dawson’s dress. She received a crochet [to undo the dress with], but the defendant then refused to undo his new wife’s dress. The defendant then jumped up from his chair, approached Ms Dawson and pushed her over. He then sat on top of her and started punching her with clenched fists. He then got up and left the room. It appears that the defendant then came back to the room. The defendant said he has no recollection of the event, adding that he must have had his drink spiked. He remembers waking up in a hotel room and said he does not get angry when he takes drugs. Ms Dawson had a cut above her left eyebrow and some bruises to her face and chest area.”

Robin Ford, defending Golightly, from Sunderland, told the court: “Given the cathartic process that this has been for him, I think he could well come back and get this order taken off early.”

Chairman of the bench Paul Elliott, told Golightly: “You do know that when your custody report was asked for, custody was an option because this was a serious assault. But your early guilty plea and mitigation mean that we will give you a 24-month community order with the requirement of supervision.”

Golightly was also given a restraining order prohibiting him from contacting Ms Dawson directly or indirectly.

He was also ordered to pay £200 in compensation to her, £85 costs and a £60 victim surcharge.