A parish councillor has avoided jail despite a court hearing how he subjected his wife to years of domestic violence.

Stephen Radband, the former Royal British Legion’s repatriation family liaison officer, admitted two counts of assault by beating, involving his wife Sarah and was sentenced at Banbury Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

The court heard the 48-year-old flew into a rage at the family home in Bampton after suspecting his wife of having an affair.

Mrs Radband, who is clerk to Bampton Parish Council, said assaults in which he slapped her and grabbed her by the throat had not been “as bad as some hits I’ve had”.

Prosecuter Claire Barclay said: “Mrs Radband describes him as a violent and controlling husband. She said on September 14 she had gone to a parish council meeting and returned home and Radband was already there.

“She said he was ranting. He seemed to think she was having an affair. She said he drinks a lot and was more violent when he was drunk.

“She went to bed but could hear him pacing up and down the stairs trying to intimidate her.

“He went into the bedroom and started to rant about a man called Simon. She said he looked like his head was going to blow and that he talked himself into hitting her.

“He slapped her on the left side of the face. She said in her police statement: ‘It wasn’t as bad as some hits I’ve had’.

“Mrs Radband also suffered another attack the following day and her husband was later arrested.”

Diabetic Radband claimed “dangerously” low blood sugar levels had caused the attacks.

Defending counsel Martin Bourne said: “He is a pillar of the community. He contributes enormously to community life. If there is a problem he is the first person to help and has great responsibility in the community.

“He was feeling very unwell from the Monday of the week when the incidents occurred.

“He suffers from high blood sugar levels but on this occasion he experienced unusual symptoms of low blood sugar levels, which his medication could not deal with.”

Father-of-three Radband was handed an 18-month supervision order and told to complete a domestic violence rehabilitation programme.

Magistrate Lynn Dowler urged Radband to address his temper. She said: “It is important you address this issue for your sake and the community’s sake.”

news@oxfordmail.co.uk