Husband strangled his new bride in vicious assault in Majorca hotel room after becoming the first couple to wed when Covid restrictions were lifted

• Richard Dunne and Julie King made headlines when they married on July 4 2020
• However during their honeymoon to Majorca Dunne assaulted his new bride
• Dunne was sentenced to a suspended 18 month prison term following the attack  

A husband strangled his wife while on their honeymoon after becoming the first couple to wed after Covid restrictions were lifted, a court has heard. 

Richard Dunne and Julie King made headlines on July 4 2020 when they were married at the Shire Hall in Gloucester, with their marriage being the first to be allowed after Covid restrictions had been lifted.

However during their honeymoon to Majorca Dunne assaulted his new wife after grabbing her behind the neck and lifting Julie off the ground, causing her actual bodily harm, the court heard. 

The court was told that the honeymoon continued, and when the couple were back home in Gloucester, Dunne angrily attacked her again, digging his nails into her cheek and throat and banging her head against a kitchen cupboard.

At Gloucester Crown Court last Friday November 10, Dunne was sentenced to a suspended 18 month prison term for twice assaulting his former wife, from whom he is now divorced. 

Richard Dunne strangled his wife Julie King while on their honeymoon after becoming the first couple to wed after Covid restrictions were lifted, a court has heard

The court heard that during their honeymoon to Majorca, Dunne (pictured) assaulted his Julie after grabbing her behind the neck and lifting her off the ground

Dunne had denied the offences but a jury heard that in their Majorca hotel on July 1st 2021 Dunne grabbed his wife tightly around the neck, lifting her off the floor.

The jury were told that the couple were divorced in March 2022 and the assaults were cited as one of the reasons for the marriage breaking down. 

The 11-member jury unanimously convicted Dunne, now of Almond Close, Abbeydale, Gloucester, of assaulting his wife by beating on August 22, 2021 and found him guilty by a 10-1 majority of assaulting her in Majorca.

During the trial the prosecutor outlined that on July 1, 2021 whilst on their honeymoon Dunne dragged his wife into a back room of their hotel suite by her arm. 

Lucy Taylor, the prosecuting barrister, said: ‘He then stood behind her and squeezed tightly around her neck lifting her off the ground

‘At that point Ms King was struggling to breathe. Dunne became distracted at that moment and his wife kicked out at him and bit him, forcing him to let go.’ 

The jury was told that the honeymoon continued, but the relationship was already beginning to show signs of strain, and this continued when they returned home. 

Ms Taylor added: ‘On August 22, 2021 Dunne attended a car boot sale and when he returned home an argument started over money. 

Ms King was in the kitchen when Mr Dunne went towards her in an angry mood and proceeded to grab her by the face and dig his nails into her cheek and throat. ‘There was also bruising and a cut under her eye and above her lip. 

Dunne then smashed his wife’s head against the kitchen cupboard. After that he walked around the house kicking out at things with force. Finally, he left the house, locking his wife inside as he left. 

‘A few minutes later he returned home while his wife was looking for the spare key. She told him she was calling the police. Dunne tried to grab the phone from her but this was unsuccessful. He proceeded to punch at her and took money from a nearby shelf. 

‘When he was challenged over this, he was reminded that it was their savings to repair the shower. He then threw the cash in the air and left. His departing words were “I hope you drop down dead, you’d better get on and order that double casket”.’ 

At Gloucester Crown Court (pictured) last Friday November 10, Dunne was sentenced to a suspended 18 month prison term for twice assaulting his former wife, from whom he is now divorced

At last Friday’s sentence hearing, his ex wife said in a statement to the court: ‘When Dunne tried to strangle me it left me completely shook up. I was hurt by the one I loved most. Having to relive everything during the trial has had a detrimental effect on my mental health. 

‘I feel my life has been ripped apart by all of this. I have gone from an outgoing bubbly person to effectively becoming a hermit. I feel as if I have been isolated and pulled myself away from everyone. I find it hard to trust people. I will never be the woman before all this.’

Judge Rupert Lowe observed: ‘I entirely understand the sincerity of her statement. But it should be in part put into the context of a relationship breakup.’ 

Sarah Jenkins, defending, told the court that the offences were now ‘of a considerable age.’ 

She told the court: ‘It’s admitted his offending crosses the custody threshold but I submit that any sentence could be administered in the community. 

‘He has since moved to the Portsmouth area and now has two jobs because of the financial difficulty he finds himself in. Additionally he also has to pay a substantial sum towards his legal aid.’

Judge Lowe told Dunne, who was wearing his wedding suit in the dock: ‘You are a man with a violent temper. You are also a man in denial. In reality I suspect you must know these things. 

‘You have spent so long trying to persuade other people that none of the allegations were true that you seem to have started to convince yourself that it was true. Now is the time to stop the nonsense and get to grips with yourself. 

‘You’re a hard-working man and a valued contributing member of society, but all this has been ruined by your temper. However there is a very slim glimmer of remorse, which just enables me to suspend your 18 month prison term for 18 months.’

The judge ordered that Dunne pay his former wife £1,000 in compensation, complete 30 programme days, 10 rehabilitation activity requirement days and undertake 120 hours of unpaid work. 

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