Bargain Hunt auctioneer Charles Hanson says he was "almost a slave" to his 'controlling' wife, who left him a "beaten and broken man" by making him subservient to her.
The 46-year-old TV star told Derby Crown Court his wife Rebecca Hanson was allowed "to do what she wanted", yet would not let him watch TV in bed and falsely accused him of having athlete's foot, reports the Mirror.
His trial heard that he is accused of using violence towards Mrs Hanson throughout a 10-year period, including pushing, scratching and grabbing her.
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However, Hanson denies controlling or coercive behaviour, assault occasioning actual bodily harm, and assault by beating, charges brought after he was arrested in June 2023.
Hanson also denied trying to portray his wife as being mentally ill during his second day of evidence to court. Claiming she experienced "moments and episodes" including an incident in which she claimed his legs being crossed amounted to abuse.
Under cross-examination from prosecutor Stephen Kemp on Monday, Hanson told jurors he had a stammer as a young boy and that he is "actually a very nervous man" whose "facade" might suggest he is more confident than he really is.
When questioned on why he sent messages to his wife, including one admitting that he had a bad temper, Hanson claimed he had "literally tapped every word she wanted to hear" about "lost temper, anger management and 'completely my fault'".
Asserting that the texts were "not the truth" but instead an attempt to tell his wife what she wanted to hear, Hanson told the court: "I was under the control of Rebecca. She completely ridiculed me, told me that I was rubbish every day."
"I just felt almost a slave to her and I had no option, Mr Kemp, but just almost in a way to adopt what she was saying and to appease her. And I tried it over and over. And I, in a way, was a coward. I was subservient under her just controlled by her. It was my life and it was awful. My marriage was just falling apart and I would do almost anything to try and save it. I know it sounds awful but I was a beaten and broken man. Speaking here now, I think why didn't I stand up. I just stayed because as a child my family's belief was you don't get divorced in life."
Hanson also used his evidence from the witness box to tell the jury he wanted his wife to "feel the riches of life" in her own career. When questioned about whether he was a man who liked to get his own way, Hanson told Mr Kemp he liked to get his own way when it came to building a business but would "always allow my wife to do what she wanted".
He told the court that his wife had claimed the way he was talking or having his legs crossed amounted to abuse, Hanson said: "I would say, love what are you talking about? I would never get my own way I was never allowed to watch television in bed."
Mrs Hanson, a trained radiographer, was described by the defendant as a wonderful actrss with a Derby-based acting society, but also someone who was "anxious over many things in life." He was invited to give his view as to whether his wife had ever been delusional, Hanson continued: "I think, Mr Kemp, to be honest with you, there has been moments and episodes."
As well as accusing him of abuse, Hanson said, his wife had turned away from him at night and said "just go to sleep". He said: My wife would never, ever give me a hug goodnight. She would say most nights 'you have got athlete's foot, don't come near me'. I have never had athlete's foot."
The court heard the auctioneer told police in interviews that his wife was a fantasist and had "mentally gone slightly awol". He also wrote a letter to the dedicated officer for the investigation in August 2023, saying he had serious doubts about his wife's reliability and credibility and "concerns as to her mental health".
Hanson's letter, the court heard, added: "Criminal proceedings involving cross-examination could be very harmful to her mental health. In the light of the above I kindly ask Derbyshire Police to cease their investigation."
The trial continues.
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