Vicar jailed for attacking wife

6:27am Saturday 5th July 2008

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A retired Oxfordshire clergyman, who beat up his wife in a drunken rage after a row over what was for dinner, has been jailed.

The Rev Christopher Walker, former vicar of St Mary's Church, in Barton, Oxford, "lost it" after drinking heavily, pushed his wife Rachel to the floor and kicked her in the face.

Walker, 56, of St Michael's Vicarage, in Faringdon Road, Abingdon, was later arrested when staff at the school where his wife worked alerted police when she called in sick.

However, the father-of-three broke bail conditions by visiting the family home three weeks later and launched a second attack - again kicking Mrs Walker.

At Oxford Magistrates' Court on Thursday, was jailed for 26 weeks for the "horrific offences" which happened in the past two months.

He had admitted two charges of assault during a previous court hearing.

Susan Clegg, prosecuting, said: "It was an argument over what they were going to eat.

"He pushed her to the floor and managed to kick her in the head at least three times.

"He said he was drinking heavily on that particular day and lost it."

The court heard Walker had been convicted of drink-driving in 2003 and of perjury in 2005, after lying on oath during a trial at Oxford Crown Court, when he was vicar of South Moreton, near Didcot.

Simon Graham-Harrison, defending, said Walker was given a "humiliating demotion" when church officials then gave him a post as a curate in Abingdon.

Mr Graham-Harrison said Walker was diagnosed with leukaemia the following year, but his condition was now under control.

He said: "There has been a precipitous decline in his personal circumstances. Up until 2003 he was a man of good character. He was a man of solid reputation.

"His wife said since then he has found life increasingly difficult and he has taken his anger out on her."

Mrs Walker had applied to the county court for an injunction preventing her husband going to the family home or harassing her - and was now planning to separate from him.

District Judge Deborah Wright said: "These are two horrific offences of violence against your wife, both involving kicking to her face."

Adding that she could not understand why Walker was not charged with the more serious offence of causing actual bodily harm, Judge Wright added: "My sentencing powers are not sufficient to reflect the seriousness of what you have committed.

"Any right-minded person would be totally horrified about the level of violence you displayed."

Yesterday, the Oxford Mail called at St Michael's Vicarage, but no-one was in.

A spokesman for the Diocese of Oxford said: "It is a matter of deep regret. The diocese always expects the highest standards of behaviour from its clergy."

The Rev Peter Doll, team vicar of St Michael and All Angels' Church, in Abingdon, said Walker retired on health grounds about a year ago.

He added: "The incident is a matter of deepest regret and a tragedy for the Walker family."