Financial consultant walks free from court after shoving fiancée at posh wedding reception

A financial consultant walked free from court after drunkenly shoving his fiancée three times at their friend’s posh wedding reception.

Former hedge fund manager Richard Steele, 37, only admitted assaulting Davinia Hodgson by beating after being shown CCTV of the attack at a party in Belgravia.

He faced up to six months in jail but magistrates cited breaches of his “privacy” from press reports of the bust-up as reasons not to give him a harsher sentence for the domestic abuse.

Steele, who lives in a £2.7m home in Chelsea, was given a two-year conditional discharge and ordered him to pay £120 costs after his fiancée also refused to support the prosecution.

Chairman of the bench Lillian Ibbett told Westminster Magistrates’ Court: “This offence is aggravated by the fact this is a domestic violence against your partner who will soon be your wife.

“You have been subject to certain press reports and your privacy has been compromised but most importantly we have been told by probation that this was a non-malicious single attack.

No domestic violence calls

“Very importantly there have been no domestic violence call outs to your name.

“The courts take any violence towards your partner quite seriously but we understand this was after a wedding, there was hugging and pushes and according to the CCTV there were hugs and pushes.

“This was a victimless prosecution, Miss Hodgson rang the police a number of times to find out about you, she contacted witness care, she herself suffered no injuries at all and when visited at home by police was still intoxicated.

“We take into account the report on you that you showed genuine regret, you had no history of domestic violence and you have no alcohol and drugs issues.”

Steele, who wore a dark jacket, white shirt with cufflinks and blue and white tie in the dock, nodded and held his hands in front of him as he was sentenced for assault by beating at about 7pm on July 12.

His fiancée was not in court for the sentencing this week because she was working abroad, his lawyer Claire Cooper said.

The court earlier heard he and his fiancée had both drank alcohol before rowing over leaving to continue to drink at another venue.

He denied the offence after being accused of punching his fiancée by witnesses in the party - three of whom were due to give evidence in a trial.

What CCTV showed

But he entered a “basis of plea” admitting the charge after police obtained and showed him CCTV supporting his claims that he only pushed her back to a wall three times.

Ms Cooper said: “The allegations made by members of the public were a world apart [from] what is shown by the CCTV and it was on that basis that Mr Steele was advised not to plead guilty to the extent of the violence.

“Not only does Miss Hodgson not support the prosecution - she sustained absolutely no injuries whatsoever.

“It was something that occurred in the head of the moment albeit, I accept, fuelled by alcohol taking as a deinhibitator.”

Sophie Akister, prosecuting, said Steele only had one previous conviction of drink driving in 2013 and added: “It’s noted they went to hug each other and she does say they accidentally bumped heads and she says she was shocked and pushed him away but she doesn’t say there was the pushing as described by the basis of plea and doesn’t support the basis of plea.

“Mr Steele has accepted pushing the complainant back three times which could be a repeated assault however also indicating lesser harm.

“It’s aggravated by the domestic contents but obviously the defendant's lack of relevant convictions is mitigating.”

The court heard Steele had been married for five years and had previous long-term relationships.

'He's extremely sorry'

Probation officer Mark Nixon said in a report to the court: “He said he’s extremely sorry for the push and what happened.

“He also said he would attend the domestic violence group however the press have got hold of this.

“Therefore the proposal I would make is that he does some one to one work with a probation officer, therefore guaranteeing his privacy.

“Because the press have got hold of this it has affected his credibility and the fact he works with big financial institutions so it has had an impact financially.”

No orders he attend any rehabilitation sessions were made by magistrates.

He was ordered to pay £100 in contribution to prosecution costs and a £20 victim surcharge.