WHEN a man’s family suggested it was time for his friend to leave after following an afternoon of drinking he turned violent and pushed his wife.

Mariusz Zurawski of Burnham Road previously pleaded guilty to the charge of assault dating from April 28 and on Wednesday he came before magistrates sitting in Swindon to be sentenced for the offence.

The court heard from prosecutor Vyvyan Thatcher that 42-year-old Zurawski had been drinking with a friend that afternoon.

“It was suggested it was time for them to stop drinking and time for the friend to go. This caused an argument,” said Mr Thatcher.

“He makes allegations to the grandmother that she should taught her daughter to behave. That prompted the response you might expect. He then walked past his wife and put two hands to her chest causing her to stumble backwards. That is the extent of the assault.”

The matter was reported to the police by Zurawski’s step-child and when arrested by the police gave a no comment interview.

Defending him, Ben Worthington told the court that it was a low level assault: “The defendant’s wife refused to engage with the police and was not interested in making a statement. The step-child gave a statement and he was arrested.

“He pleaded guilty at the earliest opportunity because he accepts he has pushed his wife and he accepts that amounts to an assault. He understands he has got to be sentenced for this offence.”

The bench imposed a 12 month community order on Zurawski during which he must complete 20 rehabilitation days as well as 60 hours of unpaid work.

Chairman of the bench Paul Gane told him that had he not pleaded guilty he would have received 90 hours of unpaid work. He must also pay court costs of £85 and a victim surcharge of £85.