A man and his lover convicted of attacking his ex-wife were both sentenced to serve 100 hours' community service.

James Grant, 48, of Field Avenue, Blackbird Leys, Oxford, was also ordered to pay £500 compensation to his former wife Geraldine Grant.

At Oxford Crown Court last month, Grant and his lover Glenys Missen, 39, denied causing actual bodily harm to Mrs Grant during an argument over some shirts he had left at her Kennington home.

Mrs Grant told the jury that her ex-husband punched her in the face and then knelt astride her while Missen bent her fingers back. Mrs Grant told the court: "She had my hand and she was pulling my fingers back. It caused me extreme pain. She broke my finger."

She also suffered cuts to her face and an injured shoulder.

Grant claimed his ex-wife had 'lured' him to the house and had then attacked him in a drunken rage, but the jury found him and Missen guilty of carrying out the attack in front of Mrs Grant's eight-year-old son.

Oxford Crown Court was told Grant had a previous conviction for smuggling, while Missen had a conviction for violence. At Northampton Crown Court, Judge Julian Hall sentenced Grant and Missen to 100 hours' community service. Grant was ordered to pay £500 compensation to his ex-wife and Missen to pay £250.

Story date: Monday 24 May

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