An aristocrat has been jailed for two years, after admitting to beating his wife various times over a 22-year period.
Lord Edward Somerset, 55, admitted to four counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH) against Lady Caroline Somerset between 1990 and 2012.
Bristol Crown Curt heard that the attacks occurred at the family’s Badminton estate in Gloucestershire, with Lady Caroline suffering bruising, scratching, and on one occasion a broken finger when she confronted him about his addictions to drugs and alcohol.
After confronting her husband about taking crack cocaine in front of their daughter, Lady Caroline required hospital treatment, causing what judge Mark Horton described as “emotional turmoil”.
The judge went on to described two tragedies affecting the family:
“A tragedy of a man born to privilege and almost limitless opportunities whose life has been marred and destroyed by an addiction to alcohol and drugs and an uncontrollable temper.
The tragedy with which the court is concerned is the tragedy caused to your wife by you over a period of 22 years by your repeated and deliberate violence.
“You abused your position of power over your wife, not only physically but more importantly by psychological and emotional damage caused by that physical control.”
Lord Somerset will now face two years in prison, and when he is freed he will be kept away from Lady Caroline with the imposition of a restraining order.
he is the second son of 11th Duke of Beaufort and is estimated to be worth £85 million.
