EAST COWES, England – Alexander Lock, 34, residing in Pontefract, recently faced sentencing at the Isle of Wight Crown Court for assaulting his ex-wife. The incident, characterized by the prosecutor as a “prolonged beating,” occurred on July 1, 2023, at their former residence.
During the court proceedings, Prosecutor James Kellam detailed how Lock, who had complained of a broken arm, turned violent upon his wife’s return from buying vodka. Kellam described how Lock pinned her down on the sofa, squeezed her face while kneeling on her chest, and prevented her from leaving the room, leading her to eventually escape and contact the authorities.
Despite denying allegations of attempting to strangle or assault his ex-wife, claiming he was only slightly intoxicated at the time, Lock had already spent six weeks in custody before being sentenced. His defense attorney, Anna Leathem, revealed that the couple had since separated, with Lock expressing a desire to maintain a relationship with their three children, though bail conditions restricted his access to them.
Addressing Lock’s struggles with isolation and its impact on his mental health, the court heard that he had been actively engaging with probation services and acknowledging the harm caused by his actions. Recorder Barry McElduff presented Lock with a choice between further jail time or complying with a community order, to which Lock expressed willingness to comply with any conditions to demonstrate his capabilities.
Taking into consideration the delay in the legal proceedings and time already served by Lock, Recorder McElduff decided against additional incarceration, opting instead for an 18-month community order that included unpaid work hours and rehabilitation sessions to address Lock’s behavior. This sentencing aims to provide Lock with an opportunity to rehabilitate and demonstrate positive changes in his conduct moving forward.