Britain's 'Best Dad' Attacked Wife

Britain's 'Best Dad' Attacked Wife
|

A man who was once crowned Britain's Best Dad sobbed in court as he was sentenced for attacking his wife after a row over Christmas presents.

Keith Preddie, a dad of one, was said to be livid his wife Emma had given his mother a present without telling him after he had spent a day shopping for one.

Croydon Magistrates Court heard that furious Preddie, 44, threw a clothes airer and a plastic step at Emma before pinning her to the ground. The couple's 12-year-old daughter was woken by the noise as Preddie carried out the attack.

Yesterday, Preddie wept throughout the 10 minute hearing as district judge Alan Baldwin told him: "It's no good crying. You have got to face up to this."

Preddie, a professional Michael Jackson impersonator who once appeared on Channel 4's Come Dine With Me, admitted one count of assault.

The court handed down a conditional discharge, with Judge Baldwin telling him:

"I don't want to condone in any way what you did and I don't say violence of any sort should be tolerated or condoned, particularly domestic violence. A man of your background should have known better. But fortunately for you, this is a single incident."

The judge said it was 'fortunate' that Emma didn't suffer and serious injuries, and said that he didn't think there was any 'pre-meditation or forethought' on Preddie's part for the attack.

"You are a man of 44 and no previous convictions," he said. "I have read the references and you are clearly a man of positive good character who has done a lot of good things and continue to do so. You have shown a great deal of remorse and understanding of what took place and taken steps to deal with it. I consider it a momentary lapse in an otherwise unblemished life."

The Mirror reports that Preddie once again broke down in tears as Judge Baldwin referenced voluntary work he did for four pensioners who cannot do their own shopping.

He was ordered to pay £100 compensation to Mrs Preddie, £85 costs and a £15 victim surcharge. The couple are now divorcing.

Preddie had been crowned 'Britain's Best Dad' by GMTV in 2010.