Bargain Hunt star Charles Hanson is on trial, accused of a decade of violence against his wife, Rebecca, starting two years after their wedding.
He supposedly threw a phone. He also prodded and pushed her. Hanson allegedly put her in a headlock. Rebecca texted her mother, saying Hanson bruised her. Prosecutors claim he “blew up.” Hanson texted Rebecca about anger sessions.
He is from Mackworth village. He faces charges for causing bodily harm, assault, and coercive control. He denies all charges. The alleged abuse happened in Quarndon.
Stephen Kemp is the prosecutor. He opened the case on February 10. Hanson and Rebecca married in 2010. Their marriage started well, said Kemp. Things changed over time, though.
Hanson started using violence, alleged Kemp. The first incident was around 2012. He was violent about every six months. She never needed medical help. The violence involved grabbing her forcefully. This often left marks, explained Kemp.
Rebecca confided in her mother and also in Hanson’s mother, Gillian. Rebecca wanted to leave in early 2023. She told Gillian this. Gillian suggested marriage counseling.
They saw a counselor at Relate on May 18, 2023. The police then got involved. The prosecution alleges controlling behavior too. This behavior seriously affected her. She feared Hanson would use violence.
The prosecution says Hanson knew this effect. Kemp detailed incidents between them. On March 24, 2020, they argued during the first Covid lockdown. Hanson threw the landline phone, hitting Rebecca’s leg.
That day, she texted her mother, Jacqueline, saying he threw the phone at her. He yelled about divorce, she texted. The prior day, she said he was nasty. She said she might need a plan to leave the house.
By May 2023, they discussed breaking up. On May 11, 2023, Hanson apologized, saying he didn’t want to break up. Rebecca replied, “Then don’t chuck your wife around.” Hanson said he would never again.
On May 23, 2023, she said she was fed up and tired of him grabbing her. He asked for one last chance to change. Two days later, he wanted to show he was good. She replied his behavior wasn’t good at all.
On June 11, 2023, he texted her, saying he’d never hurt her. He offered to go to anger sessions. The trial continues now.