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Bride beaten by husband on wedding night because he couldn't remove wedding dress

This article is more than 12 months old

The wedding night of two long-term sweethearts turned into a nightmare, a court was told.

Amy Dawson, 22, wed Gavin Golightly, 29, in the north-east of England on August 11 last year.

For a while it was perfect. A fresh start for what had been a troubled relationship.

The reception was held in a small country hotel where the couple was set to spend the night.

But after retiring to their room after midnight - with the help of a hotel porter to carry the bride - Miss Dawson, an accountancy student, made a request that would change everything.

She asked her groom to help her remove her wedding dress.

The court was told he was unable to due to the fastenings at the back.

Golightly, a tattoo artist, was offered a crochet hook to unfasten the buttons, but refused.

Getting up from his chair, Golightly shoved Miss Dawson to the ground.

The prosecution said: 

He then sat on top of her and started punching her with clenched fists

Miss Dawson, who was left with a cut eyebrow and a bruised face and chest, recalled the terror she felt during the attack: 

"I thought I was going to die. I was terrified. He looked like he was going to kill me. Eventually, I escaped and found a hotel porter, who called the police."

Golightly claimed to have no recollection of the attack and claimed that his drink had been spiked.

The prosecution also offered:

"He remembers waking up in a hotel room and said he does not get angry when he takes drugs."

Golightly pleaded guilty to assault and causing bodily harm.

He was given a 12-month community service order and a restraining order preventing him from contacting his new wife.

The couple have a child together. Miss Dawson told Sunderland Echo that life with Golightly had not been easy.

“When I first met Gavin, he was lovely, I couldn’t fault him. When we found we were having baby, we were delighted.

But almost straight away, Gavin became controlling and manipulative. It was like walking on eggshells."

Miss Dawson has filed for divorce.

Source: Daily Mirror, Daily Mail, Sunderland Echo

 

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