A WOMAN who beat her disabled husband in a sustained attack after tipping him out of his wheelchair has been sentenced.

Judge Joanna Martin said she accepted Claire Browne's actions were drunken and spontaneous attack and she accepted her remorse.

Browne, 36, was given a 12-month custodial sentence, suspended for 18 months, at the Isle of Wight Crown Court on Friday.

She was also given 80 hours of unpaid work, 30 rehabilitation days and an 18-month restraining order banning her from contacting her husband.

She originally pleaded guilty to assault occasioning actual bodily harm on James Browne, 70, as well as possession of cocaine and breaching bail conditions, at the Isle of Wight Magistrates' Court on September 20.

The court heard how Browne and her husband had argued at their home on Station Avenue, Sandown, after a night out at the pub.

Browne started slapping her husband on the head before tipping him out of his wheelchair.

She kicked him in the chest and testicles and stood on his spine.

Browne's defence, Oscar Vincent, told the court: "She is a vulnerable woman who is susceptible to finding herself in dysfunctional relationships.

"Her family does not live on the Island and she found herself isolated in a relationship with a man more than three decades her senior.

"She lived in constant fear of upsetting her husband, who would often belittle and insult her, and in this instance it all just boiled over.

"The most important part is she has rekindled her relationship with her family on the mainland and assures me she plans to leave the Island and not come back."

Browne, who appeared by video link from prison, where she had been previously remanded in custody, said: "I have learnt my lesson and I am so remorseful for everything that has happened.

"I can promise you I will never again set foot in prison."

Judge Joanna Martin said: "You can be assured I am not going to send you to immediate custody.

"This was a difficult relationship based on a shaky start.

"I accept this was a drunken and spontaneous attack.

"To my mind the aggravating and mitigating features of this case cancel each other out."

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